The Second Vermont Republic movement was founded in 2003 by Thomas Naylor, who published the book "The Vermont Manifesto" that same year. He was motivated by the September 11 attacks. Vermont's Bread and Puppet Theater were early supporters. Naylor began informal meetings of the group, holding the first statewide meeting in October 2003. In June 2004 Second Vermont Republic and Bread & Puppet Theater sponsored a parade in Montpelier and a rally of over 300 people at the State House calling for Vermont independence. University of Vermont professor Frank M. Bryan, co-author of the humorous novel "OUT! The Vermont Secession Book," later joined the Advisory Board of the Second Vermont Republic.