[antiwar-van] For Imm Rls: Protest Today | Anti-War Activist Arrested at Border

[Shannon Bundock]

** FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE **

September 14, 2007

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Prominent Anti-war & Social Justice Activist 
ALISON BODINE ARRESTED BY RCMP AND CANADA BORDER
SERVICES AGENCY
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Released by: Committee to Free Alison Bodine
Media Contacts: 
Shannon Bundock (778) 891-1470
Andrew Barry    (604) 780 4029
Tamara Hansen   (778) 882-5223 
Aaron Mercredi  (604) 339-7103

Emergency Rally to Demand Alison Bodine’s Release AND
Press Conference

Friday September 14, 2007
2:00 PM
Citizenship & Immigration Canada Offices (300 W
Georgia St @ Cambie St)
Downtown Vancouver

Alison Bodine, a US-citizen, was identified, targeted
and arrested when she attempted to cross the border
traveling from Canada into the United States. She was
initially detained with no information given about the
basis for her arrest, or the charges that she was
facing. 

Alison is a central organizer with Vancouver antiwar
coalition Mobilization Against War & Occupation
(MAWO), the President of University of British
Columbia Coalition Against War on the People of Iraq
and Internationally (CAWOPI), a long-time executive
committee member of the UBC Social Justice Center and
prominent activist in solidarity with Cuba and the
Pastors for Peace Caravan to Cuba and a supporter of
immigrant and refugee rights in Canada and the US.

Three days prior, on Monday Sept 10th, Alison was
harassed by Canadian Border Guards while traveling
from the US into Canada after border officials
searched her vehicle, which contained various
political materials and progressive newspapers. At
that time however she was granted legal entry into
Canada.

After her political materials and belongings were
seized at the border on Monday Sept 10th, she returned
to claim them on Thursday Sept 13th as she was
returning to the US. At the border she was handcuffed
and told she was under arrest, and that a warrant had
been issued for her arrest in Canada. 

RCMP and Canadian Border Guards are continuing to
refuse to answer any questions about what the warrant
was issued for. She has also been labelled a “flight
risk” in order to justify keeping her in jail for an
undetermined amount of time. 

Since her arrest Alison has been informed that she
will face an Immigration Admissibility Hearing, likely
Friday Sept 14th. The hearing is expected to take
place at Citizenship & Immigration Canada Offices (300
W Georgia). 

Alison is a prominent activist in Vancouver, having
written numerous articles, spoken at dozens of
anti-war and social justice demonstrations and forums.
She is a US-citizen who has publicly and visibly
organized against the US occupation of Iraq, and even
more so Canada’s occupation of Afghanistan. 

“The arrest of Alison Bodine is an unlawful and
political attack on the rights of immigrants, refugees
and non-residents. Even according to their own laws,
the RCMP and Immigration Canada have no legal basis
for preventing her entry into Canada. They only began
the harassment and legal process once they had
identified her as a political organizer.” said Andrew
Barry, a fellow activist who was also harassed and
intimidated by border guards when he accompanied
Alison to the border and witnessed the arrest. 

Barry concluded, “We will take action to defend Alison
as this is a clear example of Canada’s “War at Home”
and their escalation of attacks against immigrants,
refugees and in particular those who are progressive
activists.”

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