Dear Canada, Let US War Resisters Stay!

As part of UFPJ's commitment to support war resistance, we want to make sure that you were aware of an important development and need for action: Recently, the Supreme Court of Canada declined to hear appeals from U.S. war resisters Jeremy Hinzman and Brandon Hughey seeking refuge in Canada. Click here for more background information: http://www.couragetoresist.org/x/content/view/544/1/

Courage to Resist is urging people in the U.S. to sign their "Dear Canada: Let US War Resisters Stay" appeal, which will be sent to Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper, Minister of Citizenship and Immigration Diane Finley, and Stéphane Dion, Liberal Party. Click here to sign the appeal: http://www.couragetoresist.org/x/content/view/499/1/

The appeal letter begins: "I am writing from the United States to ask you to make a provision for sanctuary for the scores of U.S. military servicemembers currently in Canada, most of whom have traveled to your country in order to resist fighting in the Iraq War. Please let them stay in Canada..." Click here (and scroll down) to view the full text of the letter: http://www.couragetoresist.org/x/content/view/499/89/

More resources, including postcards, petitions, etc. can be downloaded and ordered here: http://www.couragetoresist.org/x/content/view/520/89/

We urge you to do what you can to support this effort. Please forward this information to others. No AWOL service person has yet been deported from Canada. However, that can now change quickly, following the Supreme Court of Canada's decision. Now is the time to add our voices as people in the United States in support of our war resisters.

More News on War Resisters:

On Nov. 8, a U.S. federal court granted a preliminary injunction in favor of Lt. Ehren Watada, preventing a second court-martial from proceeding! Charges had been re-filed against Lt. Watada, the first commissioned officer to refuse deployment to Iraq, in Feb. 2007, following a mistrial called during his first court-martial despite the defense's objections. The Army was proceeding with a second court-martial, even though Lt. Watada's appeal based on double jeopardy was still pending. Find out the latest developments in his case and how you can help: http://www.thankyoult.org/

Conscientious objector Agustín Aguayo has decided to appeal the two felonies­ on his record to th eU.S. Supreme Court. He returned home on May 18, 2007, after serving 7 months of an 8-month sentence for desertion and missing a movement of his unit. Click here to find out how you can support Aguayo and his family: http://www.aguayodefense.org/

Yours, for peace and justice,

Leslie Cagan
National Coordinator, UFPJ