SF Protesters Rally to Support U.S. War Resisters in Canada

SAN FRANCISCO (July 9, 2008) Over 50 military veterans, religious leaders and peace activists rallied in front of the Canadian Consulate this afternoon to protest the imminent deportation of AWOL GIs where they face court martial, imprisonment and dishonorable discharges. This was one of 14 vigils and delegations across the U.S. today in support of U.S. war resisters attempting to remain in Canada while resisting participation in illegal and immoral occupation wars.

Today’s actions were organized in less than two weeks in response to a deportation order issued against war resister Corey Glass, an Iraq War veteran who was a sergeant in the Indiana National Guard.

In a surprising victory today, a Canadian Federal Court granted Corey a last minute reprieve of at least several months while his lawyers are given an opportunity to appeal earlier negative rulings.

Corey’s victory today is related to a similar win by Iraq War veteran Joshua Key on the 4th of July. According to the Federal Court in Joshua’s recent favorable ruling, the regular abuse of Iraq civilians at the hands of the U.S. military are systematic violations of the Geneva Conventions, and should be a basis for granting refugee status.

Meanwhile, conscientious objector Robin Long has been taken into custody by local police in the small town of Nelson, British Columbia. Robin and his lawyer have been told that he may be deported as soon as Tuesday. If this is allow to occur, Robin would be the first war resister deported back to the U.S. since the beginning of the Vietnam War.

In a landmark vote last month, the House of Commons called on the Canadian government to “immediately implement a program” to allow war resisters to remain in Canada. Prime Minister Stephen Harper’s government has clearly not yet taken the will of the Canadian Parliament and the majority of the Canadian people into account.

Today’s actions at Canadian Consulates in 14 U.S. cities were spearheaded by Courage to Resist, Veterans for Peace, and Project Safe Haven. In San Francisco, the Raging Grannies, Veterans for Peace Chapter 69, American Friends Service Committee, BAY-Peace, and the Campus Antiwar Network joined Courage to Resist in making the action a success. Other cities where vigils and delegations took place were: Dallas, Los Angeles, Seattle, Minneapolis, Denver, Philadelphia, New York City, Phoenix, Miami, Boston, Chicago, Raleigh, and Washington, D.C.