War Resister Corey Glass loses bid to stay in
Canada
First Iraq War veteran to face deportation; June 12 deadline set
Please take action
now!
Sign the “Dear Canada: Let U.S. War Resisters
Stay!” letter. Courage to Resist will immediately send three
letters to Canadian officials on your behalf via International First Class
Mail.
Call Canadian Liberal Leader Stéphane Dion at
613.996.6740 or 613.996.5789. Ask him to:
- Support the Parliamentary motion to allow Iraq War resisters to
remain in Canada,
- Oppose the deportation of people of conscience who have resisted an
illegal war, and
- Support the will of the majority of people, not the U.S.
government’s endless war agenda. (Polls show that 64% of Ontarians
believe resisters should be allowed to stay.)
Forward the link
couragetoresist.org/canada
to friends and ask them to sign the letter as well!
Be on the lookout for a national day of vigils and actions at Canadian
consulates nationwide if Corey is deported. |
Courage to Resist
May 21, 2008
US Iraq war resister Corey Glass was told today that his application to
stay in Canada for “humanitarian and compassionate” reasons has
been rejected. He has been ordered to leave Canada by June 12. If this
order is allowed to stand, Corey will be the first Iraq War resister to be
deported from Canada.
Corey Glass, 25, of Fairmount, Indiana went to Canada in August 2006
after serving five months in Iraq as a Military Intelligence Sergeant.
"What I saw in Iraq convinced me that the war is illegal and immoral.
I could not in good conscience continue to take part in it," said
Corey. "I came here because Canada did not join the Iraq
War.”
On December 6, 2007, with Courage to Resist organizers in attendance,
the Standing Committee on Citizenship and Immigration called on the
Canadian Government to "immediately implement a program to allow
conscientious objectors and their immediate family members to apply for
permanent resident status and remain in Canada; and the government should
immediately cease any removal or deportation actions against such
individuals."
It is estimated that several hundred Iraq War resisters are currently
in Canada, many of them living underground.
"The Government should implement that recommendation
immediately," said author Lawrence Hill. "Corey Glass had the
courage to listen to his conscience. He is working hard to build a new life
in this country. He should be allowed to stay."
With political refugee status attempts rejected by the Canadian Supreme
Court last year, Corey appealed to be allowed to immigrate to Canada for
“Humanitarian and Compassionate” reasons. All of the war
resisters who have already been rejected as refugees have applied for this
status.
US war resisters gather after hearing victory in
Ottawa 12/6/07. Photo: L Hurlebaus |
“Many had hoped that the Canadian government might find this
avenue as a face-saving measure that would allow some war resisters to
remain in Canada, but not as refugees,” said Gerry Condon, Project
Safe Haven.
Gerry Condon concluded, “The prognosis is that the status of U.S.
war resisters in Canada will become more difficult. AWOL GI’s will
still be able to enter Canada as visitors and apply for refugee status.
Because each case is reviewed individually, this will gain them a de facto
sanctuary, however temporary.”
It’s critical that supporters of GI resistance here in the U.S.
get ready to step up our efforts. It’s inevitable that at least some
of our U.S. war resisters in Canada will be coming home soon. They will be
facing court martials and confinement, and what we do in response will
effect these people’s lives, and the momentum of the GI resistance
movement.
Written with contribution and content from the War Resisters Support Campaign (Canada)
and Project Safe
Haven
|