9.07.2009

stop the deportations! tuesday, september 8: national call-in day

Tuesday, September 8: call-in day to stop the deportation of US Iraq War Resister Rodney Watson

The minority Conservative government is deporting US war resister Rodney Watson back to the US, where he faces punishment for refusing to redeploy to Iraq.

Rodney, who currently lives in Vancouver, served a year in Iraq and when his contract was unilaterally extended, he refused a second deployment to Iraq. He has been ordered to leave Canada on September 11, 2009. "I realized the war had nothing to do with 9/11 or helping Iraqis or stopping terrorists," said Watson. "It's all about guarding oil for the U.S."

Canada's Parliament, supported by a majority of Canadians, has voted twice demanding that the Harper government stop the deportations and allow US Iraq war resisters to stay. Stephen Harper admitted in 2008 that the Iraq war was "absolutely an error" but his government has deported two war resisters to jail in the US for refusing to participate in the war.

On September 8, phone, fax or e-mail Minister of Immigration Jason Kenney to demand that he respect the democratic will of Parliament, and immediately stop the deportation of Rodney Watson and the other war resisters. Remind him that 64% of Canadians want U.S. Iraq war resisters to stay.

Even if you have phoned or emailed in the past, take a moment to do so again – Rodney faces jail time if deported, it is urgent that Canadians speak out to stop this injustice.

Please PHONE, EMAIL, FAX or WRITE A LETTER to:

• The Hon. Jason Kenney, Minister of Citizenship and Immigration
Citizenship and Immigration Canada
Ottawa, Ontario K1A 1L1
Fax: 613.992.1920
Phone: 613.954.1064 (Ministry office) or 613.992.2235 (Parliamentary office)
email: minister@cic.gc.ca AND kenney.j@parl.gc.ca

Please cc the opposition party leaders:

• Liberal party leader Michael Ignatieff: ignatm@parl.gc.ca
• Bloc Québécois leader Gilles Duceppe: ducepg@parl.gc.ca
• NDP leader Jack Layton: laytoj@parl.gc.ca

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