-- CALL FOR CANADA-WIDE ACTIONS - WAYS TO SUPPORT ---
CANADA: STOP JAILING AND DEPORTING REFUGEES, LET THEM STAY!
SUPPORT THE TAMIL MIGRANTS! SAY NO TO RACISM!
In Vancouver, Unceded Coast Salish Territories
Saturday August 21 @ 3:30 pm
Gather at Vancouver Art Gallery, Robson Side
* Download poster PDF http://bit.ly/aq9HWI or JPG: http://bit.ly/c0VN60
* Facebook RSVP: http://www.facebook.com/event.
asylum seekers, and an end to racist and restrictive refugee policies.
Justice, Freedom, and Status for All!
Surviving a dangerous journey, 500 Tamil refugees, including women and
children, arrived in BC after fleeing war and persecution in Sri Lanka.
When the ship first neared Esquimault, territories of the Songhees First
Nation, it was immediately boarded by the Armed Forces, Border Services,
and RCMP. Families are now being separated, with many children being taken
by the Ministry of Child and Family Development. The refugees now face the
threat of incarceration and eventual deportation.
Canadian government officials and media outlets are perpetuating false and
dehumanizing stereotypes of 'illegals', 'terrorists', and so-called
queue-jumpers. The earlier arrival of 76 Tamil migrants on Ocean Lady was
similarly sensationalized. This deliberately created hysteria appeals to
prejudices of refugees as undesirable. Well-known neo-Nazis, like Paul
Fromm and the Aryan Guard, also known as the Canada First Immigration
Reform Committee, are openly organizing rallies for the ship to be sent
back.
This fear-mongering is just another tactic used to disguise the racist
policies that define Canada’s immigration and refugee system. The Canadian
government was recently forced to apologize for its “keep Canada white”
measures, such as the Komagata Maru incident. Yet Minister of Censorship
and Deportation Jason Kenney continues to increase detentions and
deportation of refugees and undocumented migrants, while bringing in more
temporary exploitable migrant labour. Public Safety Minister Vic Toews
recently declared that Cabinet is drafting new policies to clamp down on
migrants and “make this country less welcoming for future shipments of
human cargo.”
No One is Illegal-Vancouver asserts the basic human right to safety,
mobility, and protection. It is well known that Tamils in Sri Lanka are
fleeing military atrocities and mass displacement. The only crime the
migrants have committed is transgressing this imposed settler-colonial
border. We encourage you to join us in rejecting repressive, racist, and
exclusionary ideologies and policies, and instead encourage compassion,
solidarity, respect for life, and justice for all refugees. Release
Detained Asylum-Seekers! Let the Boat Stay! Status for All!
*** HOW ELSE CAN I SUPPORT? ***
THERE ARE 10 THINGS YOU COULD DO!
1) Join other cities and communities for nation-wide actions. Wherever
you maybe, whatever you can organize (delegation to a Minister’s office,
street theatre, leafleting, community speak-out), will help build this
movement. Please email noii-van@resist.ca and let us know how you can
participate.
2) Engage in dialogue and widely circulate the factsheet on the 6 most
popular myths about the 490 Tamil Refugees, available here:
http://noii-van.resist.ca/?p=
3) Sign the online petition here:
http://www.petitiononline.com/
group Uphold the Rights of the MV Sun Sea Migrants here:
http://www.facebook.com/group.
4) Put up posters in your neighbourhood, workplace, and campus, and as
your social media profile. We have ‘Let them Stay’ and ‘Anti Neo Nazi,
Fight Racism’ posters available here:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/
and http://bit.ly/cgM3gK
5) Participate in the Call/Email/Fax Campaign to the Government and your
MP. State your support for the refugees to stay in Canada and denounce the
government for spreading unsubstantiated racist lies. This is easy to do
and you can tell others to do the same!
Jason Kenney, Minister of Citizenship and Immigration
Phone 613-992-2235 or 403-225-3480. Fax 403-225-3504 or 613-992-1920.
Email: Minister@cic.gc.ca and kennej@parl.gc.ca
Vic Toews, Minister of Public Safety
Phone: (204) 326-9889 or (204)345-9762 or (613) 992-3128.
Fax: (204) 346-9874 or (204) 345-9768 or (613) 995-1049
Email: toewsv1@mts.net and Toews.V@parl.gc.ca
To find out who your MP is and where to write them:
http://www2.parl.gc.ca/
6) Always take a minute to write letters to the editor and comment on
news stories - make a difference in public discourse! Reinforce your
support for the migrants and condemn irresponsible reporting including
repeating unsubstantiated lies and giving white supremacists like Paul
Fromm a platform. All letters must be short (100 words), include name,
mailing address and daytime phone number of the writer; state “Letter to
the Editor” in subject; and content should be in the body of the email.
Globe and Mail: letters@globeandmail.com
Vancouver Sun: sunletters@png.canwest.com
Vancouver Province: provletters@png.canwest.com
24 Hours: news@sunmedia.ca
Metro News: http://www.metronews.ca/
Toronto Star: lettertoed@thestar.ca
7) Take your own initiative. This issue is not just the Tamil communities’
or for migrant justice organizers. The growing racist backlash that is
taking root should concern all of us. Think of creative ways to disrupt
this xenophobic climate (do a banner drop, host a community picnic, take
some friends postering, organize a forum or press conference, distribute
anti-racist zines, take action at the prison).
8) Consider inviting a speaker to your next meeting. Email
noii-van@resist.ca and we would be happy to attend or suggest speakers, as
well as provide educational materials.
9) Have your organization, traditional council, union, community group,
or artist collective write a short public statement of support for the
Tamil migrants. Please email us a copy at noii-van@resist.ca.
10) Join our low-traffic email announcement list to receive news and
events. You can subscribe yourself
https://lists.resist.ca/
http://www.facebook.com/group.
regularly for articles: http://noii-van.resist.ca/