An F-35 jet blast demonstration leads to noise complaint charges

Ben Cohen, co-founder of Ben & Jerry's led a public service demonstration Saturday, simulating the sound of an F-35 jet blast.

Cohen and other organizers were eventually arrested by Burlington Police, and charged with disorderly conduct by noise. The protestors drove a truck with multiple speakers throughout Burlington -- to allow people to hear what they say over 6,000 people in the F-35 flight path will hear multiple times a day. Burlington Police issued at least one set of tickets to the organizers for a noise violation as well. Multiple residents and businesses were heavily impacted and complained to the group about the lack of warning.

“It's a disturbance once for the people that are going to hear this demonstration, it's a disturbance, it is a physically and cognitively destructive impact on people's lives who are going to live in this zone day in, day out,” said Cohen.

Construction continues at the Vermont National Guard base to get ready for the 18 F-35's that will be based in Vermont. The military is investing more than $80 million in the plan.