US war resisters gather after hearing victory in Ottawa 12/6/07. Photo: Lori Hurlebaus / Courage to Resist

By Courage to Resist. December 11, 2007

On December 6, the Standing Committee on Citizenship and Immigration of the House of Commons in Ottawa, Canada adopted a motion that was a critical victory for U.S. Iraq War resisters seeking sanctuary.

Courage to Resist organizers Lori Hurlebaus and Jeff Paterson traveled to Ottawa for this hearing, along with supporters and resisters from across Canada, and have contributed to this report. In collaboration with the Toronto, Canada-based War Resisters Support Campaign (WRSC), Courage to Resist is calling for U.S.-Canada consulate delegations, vigils, and actions on January 25-26 to build momentum in the wake of this important first victory.

Brandi Key, AWOL soldier Joshua Key, and kids in Canada

By Jeff Paterson, Courage to Resist. November 19, 2007

Last week the Supreme Court of Canada declined to hear appeals from US war resisters Jeremy Hinzman and Brandon Hughey seeking refuge in Canada. The War Resisters Support Campaign in Canada immediately staged protests in six cities and announced plans to ramp up pressure for a political solution, focusing on a forthcoming debate in the Canadian Parliament.

In collaboration with these efforts, Courage to Resist has sent thousands of letters to Canadian officials on behalf of individual signers of our “Dear Canada: Let US War Resisters Stay” appeal. What we do now by expanding these efforts could make all of the difference for the future of hundreds of Iraq and Afghan War sanctuary seekers and their families currently in Canada.

By Courage to Resist. November 18, 2007

While home on leave in January 2007, Army Spc Kimberly Rivera made the life changing decision that she would not be returning to the Iraq War. Instead, she packed up the family car and drove to Canada with her husband and two children. She is currently one of about fifty AWOL US war resisters who are openly seeking sanctuary in Canada. This is her story.

Also now available, Courage to Resist audio interview with Kimberly. December 4, 2007

Kyle Snyder speaking at a Courage to Resist rally, SF, 12/9/06 . Photo: Jeff Paterson

U.S. Army requested the illegal apprehension

By Gerry Condon, February 28, 2007.

On Friday, February 23, U.S. war resister Kyle Snyder was arrested in British Columbia for unspecified immigration violations. Police in Nelson, BC barged into Snyder’s home, handcuffed him, and hauled him off to jail. The police had no warrant. Snyder, who was wearing only a robe and boxer shorts at the time, was not allowed to put on clothes or shoes. He was not read his rights or allowed to call his lawyer. Nelson police told him he would be deported to the U.S., where he is wanted for unauthorized absence from the U.S. Army.

After you've signed the appeal, join the campaign to support our U.S. war resisters in Canada with these tools. Download, print, copy and distribute these resources:

• Campaign Action Leaflet PDF
• Petition, legal-sized (8.5"x14) PDF
• Letter, single signature PDF

• Order the "Breaking Ranks" DVD
• Order the "Dear Canada" organizer box
• Online web banners (below)

Thank you to the following groups for helping spread the word of this effort: Iraq Veterans Against the War, Veterans for Peace, Labor Committee for Peace and Justice, BAY Peace (Better Alternatives for Youth), Not in Our Name project, United for Peace and Justice, Project Safe Haven, DECOI, War Resisters League, Interfaith Communities United for Justice and Peace.

Sign the appeal—we'll mail the letters for you

"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..." (view complete letter (scroll down)

Courage to Resist volunteers will send this letter on your behalf to three key Canadian officials via international first class mail: Prime Minister Stephen Harper, Minister of Citizenship and Immigration Diane Finley, and Stéphane Dion, Liberal Party.

Visit our "Dear Canada" resource page to become part of this effort! Download PDF's to print and copy: campaign leaflet, signature letter, legal-sized petitions. Just send us the signatures you collect, we'll do the rest. The actual returned and signed letters will be presented to the Canadian Consulate in San Francisco.

By Mark Larabee, The Oregonian. July 16, 2007.

James Burmeister worked at Wal-Mart and in pizza joints in Eugene until he joined the U.S. Army 18 months ago because he wanted to make a difference.

His recruiter told him a tour in Iraq would give him the opportunity to build schools and support war-weary Iraqis, so against the advice of his parents, he signed up.

But once in Iraq, he was assigned to a "small kill" team that set traps for insurgents. They'd place a fake camera on a pole with a sign labeling it as U.S. property, giving the team the right to shoot anyone who messed with it. Burmeister, who provided perimeter security for the team, said he could never get over his distaste for the tactic.

• For more info on U.S. soldiers in Canada visit: War Resisters Support Campaign
• Teenage U.S soldier flees to Ottawa before Iraq deployment, CBC News (Canada).

Jeremy Hinzman and Brandon Hughey

By Gerry Condon. September 12, 2007

Thousands of young men and women are AWOL from the U.S. military. Away Without Official Leave. Also known as “deserters.” But they are not AWOL from their own consciences. And they have not deserted their moral upbringings or the law. Quite to the contrary. At considerable personal risk and inconvenience, they have made a conscientious decision to separate themselves from an illegal and immoral war. They are our antiwar heroes. They very much deserve our support. And they very much need it.

A couple hundred AWOL GI’s are currently living in Canada. They are from the U.S. Army, Marines, Navy and Air Force. Many of them served one tour in Iraq and then refused to go back again. Instead, they and their families have moved to Canada. With the support of many Canadians, they are struggling to create a home for themselves and a sanctuary for war resisters.

US Army soldier Brandon Hughey applying for refugee status in Canada. Photo: Lewis / AP

By Reuben Apple, Eye Weekly (Toronto, Canada). April 5, 2007

Americans, insurgents, militiamen and others fighting in Iraq have killed 30,000 Iraqis, if you believe US President George W. Bush, or over 600,000, according to researchers at John Hopkins University. There is near-unanimous agreement that the United States did not invade Iraq in self-defence, and the United Nations did not say America could attack. The new Iraqi oil law and Abu Ghraib are examples of systematic plunder and torture.

Related news about US troops in Canada resisting the Iraq War: Denver Post's "Fight or flight" (4/15/07) and Newsweek's "The number of soldiers deserting the U.S. Army is rising" (3/27/07).

By Claudine San Nicolas, The Maui News. May 1, 2006

A former Maui man, saying he took exception to military instructions he received as he trained for deployment to Iraq, has deserted from the U.S. Marines and is in Canada seeking refugee status.

Lance Cpl. Christopher Scott Magaoay, formerly of Pukalani, said he knows he may never be able to return to U.S. soil or even see his 4-year-old son living on Maui, but he’s willing to make the sacrifice because of his opposition to the war in Iraq.

“I left my unit and came to Canada because of my beliefs,” he wrote in an e-mail to The Maui News. “Now my family has all but disowned me.