War Resisters Support Campaign

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War Resister Support Campaign

The War Resisters Support Campaign (WRSC) was founded in April 2004 in Toronto, Canada, and is a non-profit community organization. The purpose of the organization is to mobilize support among Canadians and worldwide to convince the Canadian government to offer sanctuary to all U.S. military personnel who wish to come to Canada because of their opposition to the invasion and occupation of Iraq.

Overview

The Campaign, headquartered in Toronto, has chapters in Ottawa, ON; Montreal, PQ; Vancouver, BC; Victoria, BC; Sudbury, ON; and Thunder Bay, ON. As well, there are supporters in almost evry part of Canada, as well as many in the Unitd States and elsewhere.

The Campaign has attracted support from trade unions, including the Canadian Labour Congress, the United Steelworkers, the International Association of Machinists (Ontario); the Canadian Auto Workers; and many others. Faith groups too have been supportive -- from the Society of Friends (Quakers) to KAIROS (a joint project of many churches in Canada) to the York Region Islamic Centre and many others. Prominent individuals have also offered support, among them Shirley Douglas, Naomi Klein, Avi Lewis, Sarah Harmer, Susan Sarandon, and Tom Hayden. The New Democratic Party has been supportive as well, in particular the Party leader Jack Layton MP, Bill Siksay MP, Joe Comartin MP; Jean Crowder MP, and many others.

The Campaign's funds come from donations and from the proceeds of fundraising events. The most recent events were held in Buffalo NY and Ottawa ON. Prior to those, a major event took place on December 10, 2005 in Toronto attended by over 300 people, featuring the premiere showing of the Campaign video "Let Them Stay: Voices of US War Resisters in Canada" and a perfomance by the Common Threads Chorus.

The Campaign offers practical support to US war resisters in Canada, including temporary housing, funds for everyday ezpenses when needed, access to legal advice and repreentation, and many other less formal supports. Potential war resisters who contact the Campaign while in the US are asked first to contact the GI Rights Hotline obtain information about all possible options open to them.

The War Resisters

There are now approximately 20 US war resisters in Canada, including some families. These war resisters have made contact with the Campaign and are applying for refugee status in Canada, as well as receiving various forms of support, as needed -- and as far as our resources permit. We are aware that there are other US war resisters in Canada, but can only speculate on how many there might be. We urge all US war resisters in Canada to contact us. It's risky to stay for long periods in Canada without looking after your immigration status. We're here to help!

The war resisters mostly go to Toronto, Ontario; or Vancouver, British Columbia at first, because that is where they will find the best organized support. But the Campaign will try to help war resisters in any part of Canada.

The first war resisters to come to Canada because of opposition to the Iraq War were Jeremy Hinzman (Army) and his family. They arrived in January 2004. In March 2004, Brandon Hughey (Army) arrived. Since then, a steady trickle of individuals and families has crossd the border. The most recent arrivals are Patrick Hart (Army) and his family in September 2005 and Christian Kjar (Marines) a month later. In March of 2006, Christopher Magaoay (Marines) and his wife Ria Rose Magaoay arrived in Toronto Ontario. There have also been Navy personnel who have come to Canada.

The war resisters come from all over the US -- South Dakota; Texas; California; Hawaii; New York; Kentucky; Arkansas; Idaho; and Oklahoma are represented, among other states. They range in age from 20 to 32; in rank from Private to Sergeant. Several war resisters have seen combat in Iraq; one has been stationed in Afghanistan; others were facing deployment shortly before going AWOL. Several are married, several have children; the wife of one is expecting a baby war resister next July.

The war resisters have an excellent work ethic, quickly finding employment as soon as they receive work permits. Most would like to further their education, but their status as refugee claimants makes that difficult.

Many of the war resisters have become public spokesmen, traveling throughout Canada to speak out about their decision to leave the military, their reasons for refusing to fight in Iraq, and their hopes for the future. None of them had much experience in public speaking or media appearances

Applicants for refugee status in Canada are entitled to a work permit and to Canada's universal health care while they wait for their claim to be decided. Claims can take several years to decide.

A major part of a refugee claim is the refugee hearing, which takes place bfore a member of Canada's Immigration and Refugee Board (IRB). It is essential to have legal advice and representation at the hearing, and the Campaign has several lawyers who work with the war reissters. Once the hearing has taken place, the IRB will issue a decision (after several months), either granting or rejecting the claim. If the claim is granted, the individual or family is permitted to remain in Canada, eventually moving on to Permanent Resident status and, if the person wishes, to Canadian citizenship.

Sudbury Chapter

The Sudbury Chapter of the War Resisters Support Campaign (SC:WRSC) is organised by Alan and Daryl Shandro. For the past several years, the Sudbury Chapter has been inviting War Resisters to speak in Sudbury at various destinations including the Sudbury Arts Council, Laurentian University, and several high schools. In addition to involvement from the community, the SC:WRSC is also supported by Peace and Solidarity at Laurentian; a student organisation.

During the most recent War Resisters Tour in Northern Ontario, war resister Robin Long was discovered in Marathon, Ont. He later joined the movement and is an integral part of the organisation.

External links

• War Resisters Support Campaign home page
• List of War Resisters in Canada