By the War Resisters Support Campaign
This month marks the 10th anniversary of the arrival in Canada of Jeremy Hinzman, the first U.S. 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 19, 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 our message comes through each day of Let Them Stay Week.
Sunday, January 12
Tweet or post your support for U.S. war resisters on Facebook! |
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Monday, January 13
Write a letter to the editor of your local paper. For ideas, see sample letters here on our website. |
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Wednesday, January 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). The evening will feature a preview of the upcoming film Peace Has No Borders and updates from war resisters Joshua Key and Dean Walcott. |
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Thursday, January 16
Social media day: change your Facebook status to the graphic on this page and tweet a link to resisters.ca #LetThemStay. |
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Friday, January 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 wrsctoronto@gmail.com.
Circulate this petition among your friends and family, at work or at school. |
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Saturday, January 18
Building Sanctuary: a panel discussion with Jessica Squires and Alyssa Manning, 5–7 p.m. EST, 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 |
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Any Day or Every Day
– Display a sign in your window in support of war resisters. Download a sign here.
– Make a donation to our defense campaign in support of U.S. war resisters. Please make cheque payable to the War Resisters Support Campaign and send to War Resisters Support Campaign, Box 13, 427 Bloor Street West, Toronto, ON M5S 1X7, Canada.
