[antiwar-van] Update #30 & Alison Bodine Defence Ctte Meeting Tomorrow

[Kira Koshelanyk]

*please forward widely*

Case Update # 30 - Alison Bodine Defence Committee (ABDC)
June 22, 2008

>>>NEXT ABDC MEETING:
Monday June 23, 2008 @ 7pm
in the Large North Hall of Joe's Cafe

>>>UPDATE: Alison Bodine Defence Committee Fills the Courtroom at Alison's Judicial Review Hearing!

On Thursday June 12, 2008 at 8:45am, the Alison Bodine Defence
Committee (ABDC) and supporters of Alison's case held a defence rally
of over 30 people outside the Federal Court of Canada building in
Downtown Vancouver. Why? Because minutes later those same supporters
would fill a Federal courtroom upstairs to show their support during
the next legal step in this case: the Judicial Review hearing of the
unjust 2-year ban against Alison.

Alison Bodine, a US citizen and Co-Chair of Vancouver-based antiwar
coalition Mobilization Against War & Occupation (MAWO) is currently
fighting a 2-year ban from Canada after she was politically targeted
by the Canada Border Services Agency in September 2007. Alison and the
ABDC received notice 2 months ago that she was granted a judicial
review of her case by the Federal Court of Canada. This was a partial
victory for Alison's case and chance to set a legal and political
precedent in the defence of antiwar activists, non-residents and
non-status people who are politically targeted by the government of
Canada.

With the news of the upcoming hearing, the Alison Bodine Defence
Committee pushed to collect more signatures on the petition demanding
"Lift the 2 year Ban on Alison Bodine". This drive resulted in the
collection of over 3,600 signatures on the petition and even more
people who know about this attack on Alison and all of our human and
democratic rights.

On the morning of the hearing, supporters gathered in front of the
Federal Court of Canada building, catching the attention of passers-by
with bright ABDC signs and banners. As Alison can not even come up to
Canada to attend her own hearing, she spoke to the crowd by way of
speakerphone. Alison spoke of how attaining this hearing was a result
of the organizing and pressure that the ABDC has kept behind the case
during these months. Alison's lawyer also addressed the crowd before
everyone filed into the building for the hearing.

During the 2 hour hearing, Alison's lawyer argued against the charge
of "misrepresentation" made against Alison and the unjust decision to
ban Alison made by the Immigration & Refugee Board of Canada. The
federal judge gave no decision at the end of the hearing and the crowd
of supporters gathered again outside the building. The ABDC resolved
to continue organizing and mobilizing on the political front to get
even more support letters and petition signatures to continue to keep
pressure on until the decision is released. If the judge decides in
favour of Alison, the 2-year ban would be overturned and the case
returns to the Immigration & Refugee Board of Canada for another
tribunal and new admissibility hearing.

While pursuing all possible legal avenues to fight for this case, the
ABDC will continue to put direct pressure on the Minister of
Citizenship & Immigration Diane Finley, who has the power to intervene
and lift the unjust ban at any time. The Alison Bodine Defence
campaign will continue through petition drives and continuing to get
support from MP's, unions, organizations and individuals in defence of
the democratic and human rights of Alison and all social justice
activists, non-residents and non-status people in Canada. Join us for
the next meeting June 23 to strategize and organize this defence!

For more information on Alison Bodine's case go to www.alisonbodine.blogspot.com

Don't forget!
>>> NEXT ABDC MEETING:
MONDAY June 23rd
North Hall of Joe's Café
1150 Commercial Dr (at William St)
7:00pm


*****
Alison Bodine Defence Committee (ABDC)
http://alisonbodine.blogspot.com
defendalisonbodine at hotmail.com
778-881-6156 | 604-780-4029

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