Support Campaign for Deserters in Canada

The War Resisters Support Campaign (WRSC) is conducting a campaign to support the Americans who have deserted the US military and fled to Canada.

Jeremy Hinzman, who became the first such deserter to appeal to the courts for the right to remain in Canada with his young family, found his claim rejected. He was not allowed to introduce as an argument his position that the war in Iraq violates international law. However, he is appealing that decision.

WRSC has been offering material support to the families of deserters arriving in Canada, and is organizing a campaign asking the government to extend to these deserters the same hospitality that Prime Minister Pierre Trudeau had offered those American deserters arriving here in the 1960s and '70s, refusing to participate in the Vietnam War.

The campaign is supported by many trade unions, a number of peace and justice NGOs, and many well known persons, including June Callwood, David Suzuki, Maude Barlow, Shirley Douglas, and Naomi Klein. A DVD is available for $20 that shows touching personal interviews of several American deserters and their families. Their harrowing stories prove that war crimes are being perpetrated regularly in Iraq and that individuals soldiers are unable to prevent these crimes against innocent civilians. Their only recourse is desertion. If they remain in the United States, they must conceal their identity and constantly lie. No wonder they prefer to come to Canada and start a new life. WRSC asks that everyone buying the DVD show it to their friends and ask others to sign the petition. See their web site: www.resisters.ca. Jan/Mar 2006