Pubdate: Tue, 25 Mar 2008 Source: Rutland Herald (VT) Copyright: 2008 Rutland Herald Contact: http://www.rutlandherald.com Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/892 Author: Alan J. Keays 'KEEP OUT THE DRUG DEALERS' T-SHIRT UNITES CROWD AT HEARING Mark Miller didn't testify Monday before the U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee at a hearing held in Rutland. But his T-shirt did. "Keep Rutland Beautiful/Keep Out The Drug Dealers," read the words emblazoned across his chest and printed on his white and green short-sleeved shirt. Miller took time off Monday from work at his business, Marble Valley Reprographics, to attend the hearing. The Rutland resident wasn't alone. However, his early arrival allowed him to sit in the front row among the standing-room-only crowd of more than 200 people gathered in the Franklin Center for the Senate hearing, "The Rise of Drug-Related Violent Crime in Rural America: Finding Solutions to a Growing Problem." A string of recent drug-related shootings in Rutland prompted Patrick Leahy, D-Vt., committee chairman, to hold the hearing in the city. Arlen Specter, R-Pa, the panel's ranking Republican, also attended the hearing Monday, sitting alongside Leahy. Seven people, including city and state leaders, testified for about 90 minutes about the problems and the search for solution in combating illegal drugs on the streets of Rutland and across Vermont. "I see a lot of community activism in this room, which is a tribute to Rutland," Specter said toward the end of the hearing. Then he looked out to Miller, seated in the front row to the right of those providing testimony. "I like the T-shirt the fella out there has," Specter said before reading the message on Miller's shirt to the crowd, "Keep Rutland Beautiful/Keep Out The Drug Dealers." "Maybe we can get you one," someone from the crowd told the Pennsylvania senator. Miller, during a hearing break, said he recently had about 50 of the T-shirts made. "I made a bunch of them and ordered them because I feel very strongly that this problem needs to be addressed in the city, and it needs to be addressed from a grass-roots level," he said. "The last bunch of violence that has come through Rutland, a lot of it associated with drugs, has just got me very enraged," Miller added. "I knew that someone in the community had to start getting people in the community fired up." Miller, 52, and the father of two teenage children, said he is planning a "citizen rally" and a march starting at 10 a.m. Saturday in downtown Depot Park. "I sent out a lot of e-mails to my friends, I contacted a lot of the church organizations by email. I'm hopefully relying on word of mouth," he said. "By gathering 25 or 35 people downtown I think shows the rest of the city we really care." Miller praised the efforts of city police and other city leaders in trying to address the problem, but he said it was going to make more, a community-wide effort. "It's really got to be me, the guy living next door to me, and you and your kids saying, 'We don't want these people doing this in our town any more,'" he said. Miller said it was important to encourage residents to watch out for each other, to make more frequent calls to police tip lines, and to take part in Rutland United Neighborhoods, which formed in 2001 to help fight crime and illegal drug use in the city. RUN holds neighborhood meetings to address concerns and coordinate activities with police, allowing residents to share ideas and seek solutions to common concerns. The crime that prompted RUN's formation took place in November 2000 when Terry King, 53, of North Clarendon, was abducted and later killed in a carjacking that took place in the downtown Rutland Shopping Plaza by two men who police said were fleeing a double homicide. Donald R. Fell was later convicted of federal capital crimes in King's slaying and is now on death row in Indiana. The other suspect in the case killed himself in prison before trial. "(RUN's) got to be rejuvenated, I believe, but I think there is a lot of interest in the area and I think it can get done," Miller said Monday. "I think it's time for us to stand up again as citizens." Miller then said he was glad his T-shirt caught Specter's eye. "I left my business this morning to see if I could get this message across," Miller said. "If I brought some extra I would give (Specter) one." Rutland City Mayor Christopher Louras said following the hearing Monday that he didn't see Miller's T-shirt, but he agreed with the sentiments printed on it, "Keep Rutland Beautiful/Keep Out The Drug Dealers." "I think that's why we're all here today," the mayor said. "If you want to put the whole hearing into a few words, that's the message." - --- MAP posted-by: Derek