Ann Bedichek Braden, a Brattleboro-based grassroots organizer, was heartbroken by the result of November's presidential election. But she hasn't taken it lying down. In early December, Braden was among a group of 70 people who convened at the Bethany United Church of Christ in Montpelier to discuss the future of "Pantsuit Nation." The Vermont spinoff of that Facebook group had sought to share "the Hillary love in the Green Mountain State." At the meeting, Braden met women who, like her, sought to craft an achievable and practical strategy to counter hate rhetoric. Together they created the Local Love Brigade — Vermont. The group's mission, according to its Facebook page, is to "band together when there is an incident of hate and respond with giant helpings of love." How does that look in practice? Love Brigade members send postcards in support of individuals, religious institutions or businesses that have experienced a hate-based incident in the state or region. The Facebook group counts more than 1,000 members so far, most of them in Vermont. These love notes are "an important piece of resistance against the current hate," Braden says. The mother of two is also the founder of Gun Sense Vermont, a gun control advocacy group. "We have to strengthen the community so that fear does not win," Braden adds. "Love is the overarching fabric in our community to hold dear." Kelly McCracken, a mental health counselor from Montpelier, is another founding Love Brigade member. Just weeks ago, she sent a postcard to then-president-elect Donald Trump as part of a wider "postcard avalanche" effort protesting the appointment of Steve Bannon as Trump's chief strategist and senior counselor. "I'm action oriented, and I like achievable action steps," says McCracken. Since the inception of Local Love Brigade — Vermont, eight other chapters have been established, according to Facebook, in Georgia, Massachusetts, New York, North Carolina, Oregon, Texas, Virginia and Washington. Sending a love note is simple. LLB members usually learn about incidents of hate through news reports or personal contacts. They add the recipient's name and address to a Google document, which participants can access through the Facebook page. Then they fill a postcard or index card with hearts — sometimes accompanied by a message or drawing — sign their name and town, and send it to the hate victim. Some members post photos of their cards on the Facebook page to motivate…
Ann Bedichek Braden, a Brattleboro-based grassroots organizer, was heartbroken by the result of November's presidential election. But she hasn't taken it lying down. In early December, Braden was among a group of 70 people who convened at the Bethany United Church of Christ in Montpelier to discuss the future of "Pantsuit Nation." The Vermont spinoff of that Facebook group had sought to share "the Hillary love in the Green Mountain State." At the meeting, Braden met women who, like her, sought to craft an achievable and practical strategy to counter hate rhetoric. Together they created the Local Love Brigade — Vermont. The group's mission, according to its Facebook page, is to "band together when there is an incident of hate and respond with giant helpings of love." How does that look in practice? Love Brigade members send postcards in support of individuals, religious institutions or businesses that have experienced a hate-based incident in the state or region. The Facebook group counts more than 1,000 members so far, most of them in Vermont. These love notes are "an important piece of resistance against the current hate," Braden says. The mother of two is also the founder of Gun Sense Vermont, a gun control advocacy group. "We have to strengthen the community so that fear does not win," Braden adds. "Love is the overarching fabric in our community to hold dear." Kelly McCracken, a mental health counselor from Montpelier, is another founding Love Brigade member. Just weeks ago, she sent a postcard to then-president-elect Donald Trump as part of a wider "postcard avalanche" effort protesting the appointment of Steve Bannon as Trump's chief strategist and senior counselor. "I'm action oriented, and I like achievable action steps," says McCracken. Since the inception of Local Love Brigade — Vermont, eight other chapters have been established, according to Facebook, in Georgia, Massachusetts, New York, North Carolina, Oregon, Texas, Virginia and Washington. Sending a love note is simple. LLB members usually learn about incidents of hate through news reports or personal contacts. They add the recipient's name and address to a Google document, which participants can access through the Facebook page. Then they fill a postcard or index card with hearts — sometimes accompanied by a message or drawing — sign their name and town, and send it to the hate victim. Some members post photos of their cards on the Facebook page to motivate…