BURLINGTON, Vt. (AP) - Protesters who have been camping out for more than a month across the street from the Burlington Police Department calling for the firing of three police officers are ending their encampment in Battery Park.
“The folks at Battery have welcomed us into their home for 30+ days and we are beyond grateful,” The Black Perspective, a Vermont-based social justice organization, posted on Facebook.
But despite ending the encampment, which included more than two dozen tents earlier this month, the group promised more action was in the works.
“Come through and get hyped for what’s to come. This is only the beginning,” the group posted about a farewell event that took place on Wednesday, according to WCAX-TV.
In the aftermath of the killing of George Floyd at the hands of Minneapolis police and the wounding of Jacob Blake in Kenosha, Wisconsin, protesters set up camp in Burlington’s Battery Park in late August, holding nightly marches through the city that others joined, demanding the firing of three Burlington officers involved in use-of-force encounters.
One of the officers, Sgt. Jason Bellavance, is now leaving the police department by Oct. 5 in a separation agreement with city, which the protesters called “the direct result of the power of the people.” The city is not seeking separation agreements against the two other officers.
In the cases in fall 2018 and early 2019, police investigations determined the three officers did not use excessive force.
A federal lawsuit against Bellavance, a second officer and the city alleges that Bellavance shoved a man with both hands without announcing his presence outside a Burlington bar in September of 2018.
The man, Jeremie Meli, who is Black, fell backward, hit his head on a wall and was knocked out, the lawsuit states. Meli said he was at a bar where a verbal altercation started with several men. He said as he left, the owner said he had called police and followed him out to the street, the lawsuit said. Officer Bellavance arrived, approached the pair as they were arguing and without announcing his presence shoved Meli, the lawsuit states.
Bellavance was suspended after an internal investigation, according to then Police Chief Brandon del Pozo.
Last week, Burlington Mayor Miro Weinberger announced the creation of a new director of police transformation. The city council also has passed a resolution to look at revising the city charter and giving a public body authority to fire police officers and the police commission is reviewing its policy on releasing body camera footage.
Protest organizers say the group plans to continue protesting in Burlington and demanding police accountability but will no longer be camping, the television station reported.
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