For more on the campaign to assist US War Resisters in Canada, visit http://resisters.ca
This month marks the 10th anniversary of the arrival in Canada of Jeremy Hinzman, the first Iraq War resister to seek asylum here after refusing to participate in an illegal and immoral war. Yet 10 years on, Jeremy and his family, and many other U.S. war resisters, are still living in limbo – not certain if they will be forced to return to the U.S., where they face harsh punishment for their courageous decision.
From January 12 to 19th, join Canadians across the country in Let Them Stay Week 2014, to send a message that U.S. war resisters are welcome in Canada, and that the Canadian government must stop the deportations and enact a provision to let them stay.
Here are some of the ways you can participate, to ensure that message comes through each day of Let Them Stay Week:
Sunday Jan 12 – Tweet or post your support for U.S. war resisters on Facebook.
Monday Jan 13 – Write a letter to the editor of your local paper. For ideas, see sample letters.
Tuesday Jan 14 – Call or email the Minister of Citizenship and Immigration, Chris Alexander and ask him to ensure that no more U.S. war resisters are forced out of Canada for their opposition to an illegal and immoral war, and to enact a provision to let them stay in Canada.
You can send an email from our Take Action page, or write your own message and email it to:
[email protected], [email protected]
CC the opposition leaders and critics: [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected]
Phone 613-954-1064
Wednesday Jan 15 – Write a letter to the Minister and to your MP in support of U.S. war resisters.
Send your letter to: Hon. Chris Alexander, Minister of Citizenship & Immigration, House of Commons, Ottawa, Ontario K1A 0A6
In Toronto, join a letter-writing event at 7 p.m. at the Steelworkers Hall, 25 Cecil Street (near College and Beverly). Featuring a preview of the upcoming film Peace has no Borders and updates from resisters Joshua Key and Dean Walcott.
Thursday Jan 16 – Social media day: change your Facebook status to the graphic on this page, or tweet a link to resisters.ca #LetThemStay
Friday Jan 17 – MP and Community Outreach Day – Meet with your MP, or call their office to request a meeting. (For a lobbying guide to help organize your visit to your MP, email [email protected]). Circulate this petition among your friends and family, at work or at school.
Saturday Jan 18 – Building Sanctuary: a panel discussion with Jessica Squires and Alyssa Manning, 5–7 p.m., Ryerson University. Part of the Canadian Peace Alliance convention. Jessica Squires is the author of Building Sanctuary: The Movement to Support Vietnam War Resisters in Canada, 1965-73 . Alyssa Manning is the lawyer representing U.S. war resisters in Canada. The panel will be livestreamed at http://www.ustream.tv/channel/cpa-convention-2014
Here are further actions you can take in support of U.S. Iraq War resisters:
1. Display a sign in your window in support of war resisters.
2. Make a donation to our defense campaign in support of U.S. war resisters. * Donations can be sent to the following address (please make cheque payable to the War Resisters Support Campaign): War Resisters Support Campaign Box 13, 427 Bloor Street West Toronto, ON M5S 1X7 CANADA
