war resister update: private member's bill, emergency meeting and more

  • Today in Ottawa, there will be a press conference featuring Liberal MP Gerard Kennedy, Liberal Immigration Critic Maurizio Bevilacqua, NDP Immigration Critic Olivia Chow, Bloc Québécois Immigration Critic Thierry St-Cyr, war resister Kim Rivera, and war resister Phil McDowell. Gerard Kennedy will announce a private member's bill to stop all deportation proceedings against US war resisters in Canada, and to let them stay. All three opposition parties support the bill.

    We also expect to see the non-binding motion passed last year re-affirmed in the House of Commons, an important symbolic action while the private member's bill moves forward.

  • At 3:00 this afternoon, lawyer Alyssa Manning will be in federal court, asking for an emergency stay of removal for Kimberly Rivera and her family. We might not hear the result until evening, so it's possible that we'll get word during tonight's public meeting.

  • Our Fundable campaign for war resister legal defense ends tonight. We are up to $4870! We've also received about $120 in donations from people who weren't able to use the Fundable site, but sent cash or cheques. That brings us to almost $5,000 - double our original (arbitrary) goal!

    The success of the fundraising campaign means that - despite the government's best efforts to bankrupt us - we'll be able to continue fighting the negative IRB decisions and deportations in court, while we work for a political solution.

    If you or someone you know is hot to part with some money to support peace and democracy, there's still 15 hours left to give.

  • Tonight in Toronto, please attend an emergency public meeting in support of Kimberly Rivera and her family. Learn what you can do to stop these politically motivated deportations and support people of peace and conscience who want to live in Canada.

    7:00 p.m.
    United Steelworkers Hall
    25 Cecil Street (east of Spadina, south of College)
    Toronto

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