Supporters of War Resisters Stage Vigil at SF Canadian Consulate

SAN FRANCISCO, CA (January 25, 2008) – Thousands of letter and petitions were delivered this afternoon to the Canadian Consulate in San Francisco. The “Dear Canada: Let U.S. War Resisters Stay” letters ask that Canada find a political solution that will allow the approximately 200 U.S. war resisters now seeking sanctuary in Canada to remain. Three dozen supporters rallied in the rain, leafleted, and cheered on the Raging Grannies’ songs about GI resistance.

Courage to Resist organizers gave a report back from their trip to Canada last month. They met with many of the resisters and attended a Parliament hearing by the Standing Committee on Citizenship and Immigration of the House of Commons in Ottawa. In a important preliminary victory, the committee adopted a motion that would allow any war resister seek sanctuary in Canada if opposing a war not sanctioned by the United Nations. It’s now possible that the full House of Commons may vote on this resolution with a few weeks. In the meantime, deportation is becoming a real possibility for some of the resisters as most legal appeals
have now been exhausted.

Stephen McNeil of the American Friends Service Committee and Ying Lee of the Watada Support Committee also spoke to the importance of supporting our troops who are resisting an illegal and immoral war by going to Canada.

Pablo Paredes, a former sailor turned Iraq War resister and current GI Rights Hotline counselor, and Mike Wong, a Vietnam War era veteran who chose exile in Canada for five years, hand delivered the letters to Canadian Consul Nadia Scipio Del Campo, Political/Economic Relations and Public Affairs, on behalf of the larger delegation.

This was one of eight vigils and delegations that took place today at Canadian Consulates across the United States. These actions were initiated by Courage to Resist in collaboration with the War Resisters Support Campaign (Canada)—with the support of Veterans for Peace, United for Peace and Justice, Iraq Veterans Against the War, and many other groups. Other cities were delegations took place included Washington DC, New York City, Seattle, Los Angeles, Dallas, Philadelphia, and Minneapolis. For additional reports and photos from these other actions, check http://www.couragetoresist.org