GILL — To spur discussion about options for nonviolent resistance, the Gill Indivisible citizens group will host a screening of the 1997 documentary “An Act of Conscience” on Sunday, Feb. 1, at 1 p.m. at Gill Town Hall.
The documentary, directed by Robbie Leppzer, centers on the story of Betsy Corner and Randy Kehler, who refused to pay federal income tax as a protest against U.S. military spending. Their Colrain home was foreclosed on for back taxes in 1989, and Kehler and Corner were arrested at the house for trespassing in 1990, then for a second time in 1991. Corner was released and agreed not go back to the house again, but Kehler refused and was sentenced to six months in jail for contempt of court.
Kehler, who died in 2024 at the age of 80, is remembered as “a model of nonviolence in thought, deed and action,” in the words of Ashfield resident Mary Link of Ashfield. This story of nonviolent resistance is something that Gill Indivisible co-founder Sue Kramer said feels timely given current events and political unrest in the United States.
“This film seems timely because it’s about resistance, especially to the wars and the military, but also it’s just about how strong a stand you take in your resistance and in your beliefs,” Kramer said. “Do you stand up for your beliefs? Is there a point where you just say, ‘That’s enough,’ or do you keep going?”
Gill Indivisible, a progressive citizens group, formed in January 2025 shortly after the inauguration of President Donald Trump, and has grown since then to have a mailing list of more than 100 Gill residents. The group has previously hosted community events around education and democracy, like raising money for New England Public Media through a First Amendment bingo night at The People’s Pint in November.
After the film screening, Kramer said there will be a discussion about nonviolent resistance and what options are available for participation. From her perspective, she said, people are questioning whether they want their tax dollars funding the U.S. military and Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) when funding for health care is being cut.
“We’re not saying tax resistance is for everybody, but this movie is just to give us a takeoff point for a discussion about when you have moral beliefs, how do you follow through on them, even when it gets really hard?” Kramer said.
A snow date has been set for Sunday, Feb. 8. Updates about Gill Indivisible meetings can be found on the Gill town website.