[antiwar-van] UPDATE #27: Meeting Tomorrow! Important Victory for Alison Bodine, Banned Antiwar Activist!

[Kira Koshelanyk]

Alison Bodine Defence Committee – MEETING TOMORROW!

Alison Bodine, US Citizen and an anti-war activist banned for 2-years
from Canada, has been granted a judicial review by the Federal Court
of Canada. This decision means she will have a chance to appeal this
unjust 2-year ban. Join us tomorrow night as we discuss this great
victory and plan our continued campaign to lift the 2-year ban against
Alison Bodine! We must work together, united in order to reverse this
injustice against Alison and all other anti-war activists!

Monday May 5th
Joe's Cafe
1150 Commercial Drive (@ William St.)
6:30pm


* See below for exciting updates in Alison's Case! *


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Alison Bodine Defence Committee
UPDATE #27 May 4th 2008
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MAJOR VICTORY FOR THE ALISON BODINE DEFENCE COMMITTEE:
THE FEDERAL COURT OF CANADA GRANTS ALISON BODINE A JUDICIAL REVIEW OF HER CASE!

Alison Bodine has been granted a judicial review by the Federal Court
of Canada, the hearing date has been set for June 12, 2008, when her
lawyer will present our case to have the 2-year ban against her
lifted. This is a major victory for the Alison Bodine Defence
Committee (ABDC) that has been fighting for justice since Alison was
arrested in the fall of 2007.

The campaign to have the 2-year ban against Alison lifted has run
along two paths. The political side that has been fighting to put
pressure on Immigration Minister Diane Finley to lift the ban, and the
legal side fighting to have the case heard in front of the Federal
Court. This decision is a major victory for the legal campaign, but
also the beginning of a new drive for more signatures. In getting the
support of every person in Canada who believes in the human and
democratic rights for all people, including people without residence
or status, we can win against this injustice!

Following Alison's ban from Canada on November 17, 2007, the Alison
Bodine Defence Committee (ABDC) launched a broad campaign for 10,000
signatures on a petition demanding "Lift the 2-year Ban!" This
campaign has collected over 2,000 signatures, adding to the letters
and signatures collected in the months when ABDC was fighting to have
the charges dropped against Alison Bodine.

The campaign has received wide-spread support, from Canada-wide
organizations such as the Canadian Federation of Students, alongside
NDP MP's and MLA's, and groups from the United States like
International A.N.S.W.E.R., the Green Party-USA and more.

On Saturday, November 17, 2007, anti-war and social justice activist
Alison Bodine was forced to leave Canada under the exclusion order and
2-year ban from Canada issued by the Immigration & Refugee Board of
Canada (IRB). In September 2007, Alison was targeted and harassed as a
political activist after Canada Border Services agents found anti-war
and social justice materials in her car. The political targeting
continued when she attempted to exit Canada on September 13th and was
arrested by Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA). Currently Alison
Bodine is co-chair, executive committee member and spokesperson of
Mobilization Against War and Occupation (MAWO) in Vancouver, BC. Her
hearing on the false and unjust charge of 'misrepresentation' took
place on October 11th. On October 31st, the decision was released,
ordering her to leave Canada by November 17th and imposing the 2-year
ban from the country.

With renewed energy to continue this battle for human and democratic
rights, the Alison Bodine Defence Committee will continue to take this
campaign every where possible. Join the 10,000 signatures campaign to
lift the 2-year ban and reverse this injustice against antiwar
activists and all people in Canada!

All social justice loving people are called to join us for the next
organizing and planning meeting of the Alison Bodine Defence Campaign:

Monday May 5th
Joe's Cafe
1150 Commercial Drive (@ William St.)
6:30pm

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