War Resisters Support Campaign
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The War Resisters Support Campaign (WRSC) is a Canadian non-profit community organization, founded in April 2004 in Toronto, Ontario 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.
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[edit] Overview
The Campaign, headquartered in Toronto, has chapters in Ottawa, Ont.; Montreal, P.Q.; Vancouver, B.C.; Victoria, B.C.; Sudbury, Ont.; and Thunder Bay, Ont. As well, there are supporters in almost every part of Canada, as well as many in the United States and elsewhere.
As of November 2006, 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. A very diverse support network of Faith groups have also been supportive of this campaign – ranging 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 of Canada, is a major supporter as well, in particular the party leader Jack Layton and MPs Bill Siksay, Joe Comartin and Jean Crowder.
The Campaign's funds come from donations and from the proceeds of fundraising events. The most recent events were held in Buffalo, N.Y. and Ottawa, Ont. 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 performance by the Common Threads Chorus.
The Campaign offers practical support to US war resisters in Canada, including temporary housing, funds for everyday expenses when needed, access to legal advice and representation, 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 to obtain information.
[edit] The War Resisters
There are currently approximately 33 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. There are other US war resisters in Canada, but how many there might be is a subject for speculation. The risk of remaining in Canada for long periods of time without immigration status is great. The War Resisters Support Campaign assist those War Resisters in getting some form of status.
The war resisters mostly go to Toronto, Ontario; or Vancouver, British Columbia when they first arrive in Canada, because that is where the majority of the campaign organizing takes place. The Campaign however assist war resisters regardless of their location in 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. In August 2006, Corey Glass came to Toronto, while Vancouver welcomed Alonzo Lewis. In September, Justin Colby came north, followed by Chris and Stephanie Teske and Phil McDowell in October 2006.
War Resisters come from all over the US – South Dakota; Texas; California; Hawaii; New York; Kentucky; Arkansas; Idaho; Massachusetts; Rhode Island; North Carolina; Florida; 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; two were in Afghanistan; others were facing deployment shortly before going AWOL. Several are married, several have children; the wife of one war resister had a baby boy in July; another is expecting a child in February 2007.
War resisters tend to have an excellent work ethic, quickly finding employment as soon as they receive work permits. Many war resisters would like to further their education, but their status as refugee claimants makes that difficult.
Many of the war resisters have become public spokesmen, travelling 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 before a member of Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada (IRB). It is essential to have legal advice and representation at the hearing, and the Campaign has several lawyers who work with the war resisters. 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.
[edit] Resisters Who Went Back
Several war resisters have returned to the US, with mixed results. Darrell Anderson turned himself in at Ft. Knox, Ky. in October 2006. He got an Other Than Honorable Discharge after a few days and is now living in his hometown nearby.
But when Kyle Snyder also turned himself in at Ft. Knox, he was not discharged. Instead, he was ordered to report to his unit in Ft Leonard Wood, Mo. He decided to go AWOL, and in November 2006 he started to, bravely speaking publicly about his opposition to the war and demanding to be discharged without penalty in the US.
Ivan Brobeck also returned to the US. A Marine, he was taken to Quantico Marine Base, Va., near his home town of Arlington, and is being held there pending a decision on the charges against him.
The War Resisters Support Campaign did not recommend that these war resisters return to the US, though their decisions were respected.
[edit] Sudbury Chapter
The Sudbury Chapter of the War Resisters Support Campaign (SC:WRSC) is organized 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 organization.
During the most recent War Resisters Tour in Northern Ontario, war resister Robin Long was discovered in Marathon. He later joined the movement and is an integral part of the organization.[1]
[edit] References
- ^ Bradley, Lara. Deserter hopes to stay in Canada: War resister speaks Sudbury audience. Sudbury Star. Sudbury, Ont.: Mar 20, 2006. pg. A.3
