Robin Long deported from Canada
Courage to Resist. July 15, 2008
Today Army PFC Robin Long became the first U.S. war resister since the Vietnam War forced to leave Canada and turned over to the U.S. military. While dozens of supporters gathered this morning at Peace Arch Park on the Canadian-U.S. border, Robin was already being transported to Fort Carson, Colorado. He is expected to be immediately placed in pre-trial confinement and eventually court martialed for AWOL, desertion
, and possibly other violations of military discipline.
Courage to Resist has made civilian legal representation available to Robin and will be doing everything possible to provide him our full support. We plan to collaborate with many other groups in our efforts to help Robin in the coming weeks. Refusing to fight in an illegal war is not a crime—except under the Uniform Code of Military (In)Justice.
At 19, the Boise, Idaho native joined the Army on the promise that he would not be deployed to Iraq. “I made it apparent that I didn't want to go to Iraq. I didn't believe in the war that was going on over there so that's why I was stationed at Fort Knox.” However, later Robin realized that “they didn't have any new people enlisting so they were just taking anyone they could.”
In April 2005 Robin was ordered to Fort Carson in preparation for deployment to Iraq. Robin recounted, “My superiors were telling me; ‘You're going to the desert to fight rag heads’. It wasn't like I was going to Iraq to liberate the people.” After his Army “battle buddy” didn’t report for deployment by leaving for Canada, Robin also went AWOL and eventually hitchhiked to Canada. Once there he spent several months doing more hitchhiking and hanging out at soup kitchens before settling down with the help of the War Resisters Support Campaign.
Along with a few other U.S. Iraq War resisters, Robin had been most recently living in Nelson, British Columbia, a town of 10,000 people 30 miles north of the intersection of Washington state and Idaho. Local police have gained a reputation of being hostile to war resisters. “We have enough hippies of our own” seems to sum up their attitude. Authorities claimed that because Robin was staying with different friends around Nelson, he was in violation of a previous order to notify authorities of his whereabouts—and this gave them the opening for an expedited removal. Robin’s bad luck continued when a conservative Canadian Judge ruled against his last ditch appeal.
“This is a gift from Stephen Harper to George Bush,” says Gerry Condon of Project Safe Haven, referring to the conservative heads of state of Canada and the U.S. “And it will trumpet that Canada is no longer a safe haven for AWOL GIs.” However, Gerry believe that “this is not the first of many deportations. It may be the first and the last. A minority government that ignores the will of its people and its Parliament will not be allowed to rule much longer.” Federal elections are expected to take place in Canada this fall.
Check couragetoresist.org for updates on Robin’s case
July 18, 2008
War Resister Is Deported
July 5, 2008
War Resisters Need Safe Haven
GI Rights Hotline
Courage to Resist
July 9th actions at Canadian Consulates in 12 US cities
Stop the deportation of Corey Glass and all war resisters!
Join a vigil and delegation to a Canadian consulate near you on Wednesday--the eve of U.S. war resister Corey Glass' possible deportation. We will demand, "Dear Canada: Abide by the June 3rd resolution - Let U.S. war resisters stay!" More details and cities to be confirmed!
- San Francisco CA - Noon to 1pm - 580 California St (map). Sponsored by Courage to Resist. Info: 510-488-3559; courage@riseup.net
- Seattle WA - Noon to 1pm - 1501 4th Ave (map). Sponsored by Project Safe Haven. Info: 206-499-1220; projectsafehaven@hotmail.com
- Dallas TX - 3pm - 750 North St Paul St (map). Sponsored by North Texas for Justice and Peace. Info: 214-718-6362; hftomlinson@riseup.net
- New York City NY - Noon to 1pm - 1251 Avenue of the Americas (map). Sponsored by War Resisters League. Info: 212-228-0450; wrl@warresisters.org
- Philadelphia PA - Time TBA - 1650 Market St (map). Sponsored by Payday Network. Info: 215-848-1120; payday@paydaynet.org
- Minneapolis MN - Noon to 1pm - 701 Fourth Ave S (map). Info: jrkilgour@yahoo.com
- Los Angeles CA - Noon to 1pm - 550 South Hope St (map). Sponsored by Progressive Democrats LA. Info: pdlavote@aol.com
- Boston MA - 2pm - Copley Square Park (map); Sponsored by Veterans for Peace (Boston Chapter); Contact info: nateg@pobox.com
- Phoenix AZ - 5pm to 6pm - 2415 East Camelback Rd (map). Sponsored by Women in Black Phoenix (azpeace.org)
- Denver CO - Noon - 1625 Broadway (map). Sponsored by Veterans for Peace Denver. Info: 303-762-8408; spexx@mac.com
- Miami FL - 200 South Biscayne Blvd (map). Sponsored by Veterans for Peace Miami. Info regarding delegation: VetsForPeace@the-beach.net
- Washington DC - Time TBA - 501 Pennsylvania Ave NW (map). Sponsored by Veterans for Peace. Info: TBA
Help organize a vigil at one of these other Canadian Consulates: Atlanta, Buffalo, Chicago, Detroit, Anchorage, Houston, Raleigh or San Diego. Contact Courage to Resist at 510-488-3559 for help.
Veterans for Peace issued a joint call with Courage to Resist and Project Safe Haven for July 9th vigils at Canadian Consulates: "Dear Canada: Do Not Deport U.S. War Resisters!" Contact us if you can help organize a vigil, or can otherwise get involved. Locations of the 22 Canadian Consulates in the United States.
Recently on June 3rd the Canadian Parliament passed an historic motion to officially welcome war resisters! It now appears, however, that the Conservative government may disregard the motion. [my bold] Iraq combat veteran turned courageous war resister, 25-year-old Sgt. Corey Glass of the Indiana National Guard is still scheduled to be deported July 10th.
We will ask that the Canadian government respect the democratic decision of Parliament, the demonstrated opinion of the Canadian citizenry, the view of the United Nations, and millions of Americans by immediately implementing the motion and cease deportation proceedings against Corey Glass and other current and future war resisters.
Join Courage to Resist, Veterans for Peace, and Project Safe Haven at Canadian Consulates across the United States (Washington DC, San Francisco, New York City, Seattle, Minneapolis, and Los Angeles confirmed--more to be announced).
We mailed and delivered over 10,000 of the original letters to Canadian officials. Please sign the new letter, "Dear Canada: Abide by resolution - Let U.S. war resisters stay!"
If you haven't already, please sign the petition and foward this to EVERYONE who loves our veterans: http://www.couragetoresist.org/canada
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