Canadian MPs back war resisters at vigil for U.S. Iraq war veteran Rodney Watson‏

August 7, 2009 update:

As Iraq war veteran Rodney Watson faces imminent deportation (August 10, 2009) by the Harper government from Vancouver to court martial in the U.S. for opposing the war, Toronto supporters handed out 800 leaflets at a local vigil and two members of Canadian Parliament spoke in support of letting war resisters stay.

MP Olivia Chow (NDP) speaks in support of Iraq war resisters:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uSl0bMFABQc

MP Gerard Kennedy (Liberal) speaks in support of Iraq war resisters:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-QkTN-5-8As

Join the growing campaign - let war resisters stay!
WAR RESISTERS SUPPORT CAMPAIGN
http://www.resisters.ca/

Rodney Watson is a veteran of the Iraq War. After seeing the way Iraqi civilians were being treated by the US, he refused a second deployment, choosing to come to Canada instead. Watson now has a Canadian-born son, and seeks only to live in peace in his new home.

In June 2009, the Immigration Critics from all three opposition parties wrote to Minister of Citizenship and Immigration Jason Kenney, calling on him to honour the will of Parliament and "not to use the Parliamentary recess to disregard the expressed will of the House of Commons with respect to the fair treatment of Iraq War resisters in Canada". A majority of Members of Parliament voted twice to allow U.S. war resisters to remain in Canada, first in June 2008, then again in March 2009.

Despite this very clear mandate, Minister Kenney and the Harper Government continue to deport Iraq War resisters. Several war resisters already have been deported to the U.S., where two have been court martialed and imprisoned. In addition to Watson, several other war resisters in Canada live under threat of deportation, including Kimberly Rivera, Jeremy Hinzman and Patrick Hart. All are parents of young children.

In January, Minister Kenney publicly denounced U.S. war resisters as "bogus refugee claimants," revealing the government's blanket opposition to what is supposed to be an impartial process. The Minister's blatantly prejudicial comments were promptly denounced by Amnesty International Canada and the Canadian Council for Refugees.

Please see:

http://www.facebook.com/home.php#/event.php?eid=132663405848&ref=mf

http://wmtc.blogspot.com/2009/08/let-them-stay-protest-impending.html

I will keep you updates, as well!

Rise up like a pride of lions!

In sol,

krystalline

Next Toronto organizing meeting:
Wednesday, August 12 @ 7pm
Steelworkers' Hall - 25 Cecil Street

For other cities, please contact resisters@sympatico.ca