News

Important week for U.S. war resisters in Canada

Gerry Condon, Veterans for Peace organizer. May 26, 2010

This week was very important for the 200 U.S. war resisters who are seeking sanctuary in Canada. The case of Jeremy Hinzman, the first to do so, was argued in Canada's Federal Court of Appeals on Tuesday, May 25. The outcome may decide the fate of Jeremy, his wife Nga (photo right) and their two young children. The court's decision, which is expected to take several months, may also determine the fate of other young men and women who are facing deportation to the U.S., followed by courts martial and imprisonment.

Also on Tuesday, May 25, the Canadian Parliament held a debate on a bill that would allow Iraq War resisters to remain in Canada. The House of Commons is expected to vote on this bill, C-440, in September.

According to several polls, nearly two-thirds of Canadians want their government to allow U.S. war resisters to have legal status in Canada. But Prime Minister Stephen Harper, leader of the Conservative Party, does not agree. The Conservative government has already deported several war resisters and is aggressively pursuing the deportation of others.

This weekend, USA Today published an excellent article on U.S. war resisters in Canada, including Vietnam War resisters. It is very much worth reading. There is also a short video on the USA Today website.

The War Resisters Support Campaign in Canada is a national network of churches, labor unions, activists and artists, including Vietnam War resisters who are now Canadian citizens. The War Resisters Support Campaign has been supporting our war resisters ever since early 2004, when Jeremy Hinzman arrived in Toronto. We recommend that you send them a note at this time thanking them for taking care of U.S. war resisters.

For more information on Rodney Watson, an Iraq War Resister who has taken refuge in a church in Vancouver, British Columbia, you can visit the website of the Vancouver War Resisters Support Campaign.

Courage to Resist continues to send letters to Stephen Harper, the Prime Minister of Canada, and Minister of Citizenship and Immigration Jason Kenney on your behalf. Sign online, and we'll print and mail the letters for you!