Stop the Deportation of Iraq War Resister Kimberly Rivera!

Stop the Deportation of Iraq War Resister Kimberly Rivera! Protest! Tuesday, September 18th, Canadian Consulate, 580 California Street, San Francisco, 12pm Noon.

Kimberly Rivera, is a U.S. soldier who fled to Canada after she became disillusioned with the Iraq war in 2007. Rivera, who lives in Toronto with her family, went to Canada to avoid further military service in Iraq. She had initially arrived while on leave but then applied for refugee status. Rivera said she grew to oppose the Iraq war while she was taking part in it. She is currently appealing a ruling that would have her deported to the U.S. by September 20th. She faces up to five years in military prison if deported back to the U.S.

"My biggest fear is being separated from my children and having to sit in a prison for politically being against the war in Iraq," Kimberly Rivera told a recent news conference.

A spokeswoman for Immigration Minister Jason Kenney said the Canadian federal government does not believe the U.S. subjects its soldiers to persecution."Military deserters from the United States are not genuine refugees under the internationally accepted meaning of the term," said Alexis Pavlich, the minister's press secretary, in an email.

Rivera is also considering asking the government to delay her deportation while her humanitarian and compassionate grounds application is still being weighed.

Join us Tuesday, September 18th, the day before Kimberly is to be deported, at the Canadian Consulate 580 California Street, San Francisco, to demand to let Kimberly Rivera and all war resisters stay in Canada!

Facebook Event:
http://www.facebook.com/events/281099588670235/

Courage to Resist: http://www.couragetoresist.org

War Resisters Support Campaign: http://www.resisters.ca