videos of rodney watson and reverend ric matthews
Reverend Ric Matthews, of First United Church of Vancouver, who offered Rodney sanctuary:
War Resisters Legal DefenseOrganized by War Resisters Support Campaign |
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Reverend Ric Matthews, of First United Church of Vancouver, who offered Rodney sanctuary: update with new links!
Since our last update, there have been some encouraging developments in the fight to win asylum for U.S. Iraq War resisters -- but we also face new challenges. In September, MP Gerard Kennedy -- whose riding is home to many U.S. war resisters -- introduced Bill C-440 in the House of Commons. C-440 calls on the Canadian government to stop deporting U.S. war resisters, and to allow them to become permanent residents of Canada. If passed, this private member's bill would give the weight of law to the two motions in support of war resisters already passed by the House of Commons. The War Resisters Support Campaign is actively working to support the passage of this historic bill. For more info on the campaign to support Bill C-440, go here. Meanwhile, Rodney Watson has become the first Iraq War resister to take sanctuary in a church. Rodney, a Vancouver resident, had received a deportation order. If he returned to the U.S., Rodney would have faced court martial and a lengthy prison sentence, and would have been separated from his Canadian-born son. Statement by Rodney Watson here. Finally, war resisters are still forced to fight their cases in court, one at a time. Jeremy Hinzman's case will soon be heard at the Federal Court of Appeal, and other cases are ongoing. We urgently need funds in order to meet these many political and legal challenges. Please note there is a December 1 deadline to give online. If you prefer to donate by cheque, please make it out to War Resisters Support Campaign and send to: War Resisters Support Campaign 427 Bloor Street West, Box 13 Toronto, Ontario M5S 1X7 You can further help by circulating this link to other supporters of peace and justice. No amount is too small -- it all makes a difference. In peace and solidarity, War Resisters Support Campaign let them stay!
The War Resisters Support Campaign is asking for your help again. Our fight to secure safe haven for US war resisters in Canada continues.
Several war resisters are at risk for deportation. We need funds to continue our legal and political battle on their behalf. * * * * * Thousands of US soldiers have refused to participate in the US's invasion and occupation of Iraq, choosing to obey their consciences instead of illegal military orders. Some of these courageous men and women have come to Canada, seeking sanctuary. The majority of Canadian people believe these veterans should be allowed to live in Canada. On two separate occasions, the Canadian Parliament passed a motion calling on the Government to allow the war resisters to stay. Prime Minister Stephen Harper and his minority government ignored both motions. Now a private member's bill in support of US Iraq war resisters has been introduced in the House of Commons. If passed into law, Bill C-440 will give the previous motions the force of law. But what happens until then? Shamefully, the Harper Government continues to deport war resisters. If forced to return to the US, the war resisters will be court martialled, imprisoned and likely receive dishonourable discharges, the equivalent of a felony conviction. Until a law is passed allowing the war resisters to stay in Canada, the War Resister Support Campaign must fight each deportation order in court. Even with discounted fees from lawyers sympathetic to our cause, we face thousands of dollars in legal costs. That's why we need your help. This is an all-volunteer campaign, so every dollar you give goes directly towards legal costs for war resisters like Jeremy Hinzman and Dean Walcott. Jeremy Hinzman was one of the first Iraq War resisters to seek refuge in Canada. Jeremy, his wife Nga Nguyen, son Liam and daughter Meghan, a Canadian citizen, also face deportation. Jeremy says he will go to prison rather than kill innocent people in Iraq, but we believe he should be allowed to live in peace in Canada. Dean Walcott served two tours of duty in Iraq. He was also stationed at a US military hospital in Germany, where mortally wounded US soldiers and Iraqi civilians lived out their last days. The carnage was ghastly. Dean began having nightmares and became severely depressed. Once Dean was back in the US, the Marines obstructed his efforts to get help for his depression and post-traumatic stress symptoms, but there was no legal way for him to leave the military. In December 2006, Dean walked away from his base in North Carolina and boarded a Greyhound bus for Toronto. Dean now trains high school students in computer repair, working for reBoot Canada, a non-profit organization that provides computers and technical support to charities and low-income Canadians. * * * * * Please help us win our battle to keep US war resisters safe in Canada. Give what you can. Supporting war resisters is a concrete way you can support peace. For more information, see the War Resisters Support Campaign, or the blog we move to canada under the category "war resisters". With thanks and in peace, The War Resisters Support Campaign |
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