Dozens Rally on Newport's Main Street for Veteran Facing Domestic Terrorism Charge

Bright green signs reading "JJ Strong" and "Vets for JJ" lined Main Street in Newport City on March 5 as dozens of friends, family members, and fellow veterans gathered to show public support for Joseph "JJ" Millett, a 38-year-old Army veteran facing a felony domestic terrorism charge.

The three-hour rally, running from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., drew enough attention that passing motorists slowed to honk in solidarity. Even the driver of a tractor-trailer joined in. Some attendees waved small American flags alongside their signs.

Millett was taken into protective custody on Feb. 19 after Vermont State Police said he made homicidal and suicidal threats during a call to the Veterans Crisis Line. Trooper Kimberly Elmore of the Derby barracks said troopers reached Millett by phone, determined he was in Newport City, and arranged for him to report voluntarily to the Derby barracks, where he was disarmed without incident. He was subsequently cited to appear Feb. 24 in the Criminal Division of Vermont Superior Court in Newport on a felony charge of domestic terrorism.

Family members at the rally said Millett has long struggled with his mental health. Organizers framed the event as broader than one man's legal situation, saying it was not only about Millett but also about all veterans who face mental health challenges and a lack of resources to help them.

The case has drawn particular attention because the charge stems from a call Millett placed to the Veterans Crisis Line, a federal hotline created specifically to connect veterans in distress with mental health support. That a call to a crisis resource led to a felony domestic terrorism citation is at the heart of what supporters say is a systemic failure.

Millett's court case in Newport's Vermont Superior Court remains ongoing. No additional court dates, defense representation, or plea information have been made public as of this report.