Robin Long Needs Our Help.....

Robin was arrested in Nelson, B.C. on Oct. 1, 2007, whereupon he was transported to Vancouver and has since been released but is still facing the high probability of deportation. Here's some background on him and his young family:

Robin Long is from Boise, Idaho. He received orders in March 2005 to report to Iraq and meet up with his new unit 2-2 IN in May. "I still don't think that Bush has proven we have any reason to be over there, and I would be wrong to be a tool of destruction," Robin says.
He served two years as a tanker in the US army, at Fort Knox before he left and came to Canada in June of 2005. He traveled by hitchhiking from Tofino, BC to St. John's, Newfoundland, and as far north as the north shore of the St. Lawrence during the summer months. "I have really enjoyed this beautiful country, I'm reminded everyday by its wonderful people that I made the right decision. I remember that a soldier is just a uniform following orders, a warrior is the man or woman that follows their conscience and does the right thing in the face of adversity."
He applied for refugee status in Thunder Bay. He lives with his partner Renée and their young son.

URGENT ACTION!

October 3, 2007 – Robin Long is the first US war resister to receive a pre-removal risk assessment. This is the first step in the process which could lead to his deportation down the road.

There are two urgent demands which we need to press for immediately:

• no resister should be removed until the Supreme Court has made a decision in the issue of Jeremy Hinzman and Brandon Hughey

Please take a moment to email or phone Minister of Immigration Diane Finley ASAP to demand that no resisters be removed before the Supreme Court has a chance to decide on this issue.
Phone 613-954-1064
Email minister@cic.gc.ca

• this situation needs a political solution - we need our politicians to make a political provision to allow all US war resisters to stay

Please phone or email the opposition party leaders to ask them to support a political provision to allow US war resisters to stay in Canada. If the opposition parties unite, such a provision could easily be adopted.
- Stéphane Dion, leader of the Liberal Party: 613.996.5789 dion.s@parl.gc.ca
- Gilles Duceppe, leader of the Bloc Québécois: 613.992.6779 duceppe.g@parl.gc.ca
- Jack Layton: 613. 995.7224 - layton.j@parl.gc.ca

* * *

It is more urgent than ever that we send a message to the Canadian government that Canada needs to welcome US men and women who refuse to participate in the illegal and immoral war in Iraq. There are three actions you can take today to help support the war resisters.

* Sign the petition in support of the war resisters;
* Contact the federal government and make your views known; and
* Send a letter to the editor of your local newspaper.

Petition
Add your name to the petition calling for the federal government to make a provision to allow war resisters to stay in Canada. Initial signatories include June Callwood, David Suzuki, Maude Barlow, Shirley Douglas, Naomi Klein, Ann-Marie MacDonald, and many others.
You can add your name at War Resisters Support Campaign.
You can also download a hard copy of the petition.

Contact the federal government
It is urgent that everyone who supports the right of US war resisters to stay in Canada immediately contact both Prime Minister Stephen Harper and Minister of Citizenship & Immigration Diane Finley and demand that they make a provision to allow U.S. war resisters to stay in this country.

- Prime Minister Stephen Harper
Fax 613-941-6900
Email pm@pm.gc.ca

- Minister of Citizenship & Immigration Diane Finley
Phone 613-954-1064 (between 8:00 a.m. and 7:00 p.m.)
Email: Minister@cic.gc.ca
Mail:
The Honourable Diane Finley, P.C., M.P.
Citizenship and Immigration Canada
Ottawa, Ontario
K1A 1L1

Write a letter to the editor
Letters to the editor are an important piece of the public debate on this issue. The majority of Canadians opposed the war in Iraq and support the provision of sanctuary for US soldiers. Send a copy of your letter to the campaign to resisters@sympatico.ca.

For anyone recently arrived in Canada who needs assistance, call 416-598-1222. For Canadians interested in finding information about Canada's history regarding U.S. war resisters, or wanting to get involved with the support of resisters in this country, go here.