[antiwar-van] Sept 20: UDPATE #7 CBSA Reveals Case Against Alison Bodine! DROP THE CHARGES NOW!

[Kira Koshelanyk]

Alison Bodine Defence Committee UPDATE # 7 – Thursday September 20, 2007 Canada Border Services Agency Reveals Case Against Alison Bodine as Support Continues to Grow!  Daily Rallies Continue the Demand: “Canada Border Services Agency, DROP THE CHARGES AGAINST ALISON BODINE NOW!” Wednesday September 18th was marked by the fourth support rally for Alison Bodine and an increase of support as the campaign to drop all charges against Alison by the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) goes into its sixth day. The campaign has been busy gathering more support with 200 support letters and petition signatures collected in the last 24 hours alone. The Alison Bodine Defense Committee has also set a goal to collect 1000 petition signatures by Wednesday September 26th, two days before Alison’s scheduled Admissibility hearing. The increased support for the campaign was visible at the rally on Wednesday afternoon. Among the speakers was Ken Robinson, First Vice President of the Hospital Employees Union. He stated he represents 45,000 hospital workers in BC and that all members of their union stood behind Alison in this fight for democratic rights. The HEU has also sent a letter of support for Alison, echoing the demand that all charges against her be dropped. The rally at the Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC) Building downtown was strengthened with the reading of the support letter from NDP MPs Libby Davies and Bill Siksay that was also sent on Wednesday to Stockwell Day, Minister for Public Safety (the ministry responsible for the Canada Border Services Agency).  Lower Mainland student unions are also getting on board to demand “Drop the Charges Against Alison Now!”. The Douglas College Students Union and Capilano Students Union Executive Committees, representing 12,000 and 14,200 students respectively, have also decided to support the campaign. On Wednesday, Alison also learned that the CBSA has given her lawyer, Gabriel Chand, BC LL.B, of Chand & Company, Barristors & Solicitors full disclosure of the case against her. At the press conference on Thursday September 20th, 2pm at the CIC both Alison and her lawyer will answer questions and comment on charges and the full disclosure.  The Alison Bodine Defense Committee is continuing to mobilize and expand the presence of this campaign for democratic rights and human rights for all working, poor and oppressed people,immigrants, refugees, non-status people and non-residents in Canada. On Wednesday there wasa successful forum held at Simon Fraser University attended by more than two dozen university students titled “Alison Bodine Speaks Out: Antiwar & Social Justice Activists Under Attack – Drop the Charges Against Alison Bodine Now!” The daily rallies at the CIC building downtown will continue as the campaign also expands outward, appealing to post-secondary students with the petition drive visiting college and university campuses in the Lower Mainland and Vancouver Island next week.  The Alison Bodine Defense Committee calls on all progressive, humanity loving people to come out to these actions and defend not only Alison's rights, but the rights of us all, by participating in the daily rallies and by sending a letter in defense of Alison (either to the Alison Bodine Defense Committee -ABDC ( defendalisonbodine at hotmail.com ) or to Canada Border Services Agency and CC it to ABDC) . Unity in action is the only way that we can show the government of Canada and its agencies that we will not be pushed around or intimidated by their undemocratic measures, repressive actions and fear mongering tactics. United We Will Win! Canada Border Services Agency, Drop All Charges Against Alison Bodine NOW! DAILY RALLIES CONTINUE:(all rallies at Citizenship & Immigration Canada Building, 300 W Georgia St – corner of Georgia St & Hamilton St)  **Thursday September 20th – 2pm – Rally & Press Conference**Friday September 21st – 12noon – Rally Alison Bodine Defense Committee (ABDC)*Contact by phone:Shannon Bundock 778.891.1470Tamara Hansen 778.882.5223Aaron Mercredi 604.339.7103  *Blog, Daily Updates & Action Info: http://alisonbodine.blogspot.com *Email: defendalisonbodine at hotmail.com  or free_alison_bodine at yahoo.ca   
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