[antiwar-van] Eleven NOII Highlights from 2011

[Harsha W.]

Thank you to our friends, allies, and supporters whom we stood alongside
in 2011. We look forward to rising together in yet another year of
struggle and liberation – till every wall and fence falls, and all prisons
and sweatshops are abolished. Serve the people, defend the land
* no one is illegal vancouver coast salish territories *

ELEVEN NO ONE IS ILLEGAL HIGHLIGHTS FROM 2011

Linked here: http://noii-van.resist.ca/?p=4611

1. Our People v Jason Kenney campaign continued strong this year. We
confronted Minister of Censorship, Deportation, and What Not To Wear Jason
Kenney in Vancouver on several occasions; organized rallies and banner
drops; held community discussions; produced and distributed multilingual
factsheets and posters on Harper, Kenney and the Tories; and mobilized
nationally against the deportation snitch lines, the human smuggling bill,
the conditional permanent residency proposal which puts immigrant women at
risk, and Kenney’s anti-family sponsorship regulations.

Take Action against Jason Kenney – Campaign Material:
http://noii-van.resist.ca/?p=2034
Check out our 7 Demands for Migrant Justice:
http://noii-van.resist.ca/?page_id=4096

2. Our “I am a Human Smuggler” Poster Series, featuring Harriet Tubman and
Irene Sendler, went viral and were downloaded and distributed in
communities from coast to coast! We share them in opposition to the Tories
human smuggling bills.
Poster image: http://www.flickr.com/photos/nooneisillegal/5366393464/

3. In March 2011, we organized a Community March Against Racism on the
International Day for the Elimination of Racism. Approximately 500 people
marched to confront racism while celebrating the dignity, strength, and
resilience of our communities.
Videos and photos: http://noii-van.resist.ca/?p=3464

4. We launched our “Inheriting Resistance: A Community History Project” to
document the untold stories of people in our communities who have shaped a
diversity of social justice struggles on unceded Coast Salish Territories
over the past 20-40 years. We hope to learn from the lessons shared
throughout this project for many years to come. In August, we released an
excerpt of our first interview with Jean Swanson.
Video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7FDctWyxfzQ

5. We organized a successful sanction-busting fundraiser dinner for
Abousfian Abdelrazik, in active defiance of the unjust UN 1267 sanctions
regime. We joined hundreds of individuals and unions across the country
who risked federal prosecution by openly making a donation to Mr.
Abdelrazik. As a result of an ongoing campaign, including a Canada-wide
speaking tour and a delegation to the UN, Abousfian Abdelrazik was removed
from this UN blacklist (“a prison without walls”) in Nov 2011. More info:
http://www.peoplescommission.org/en/abdelrazik/

6. We were honoured and humbled to be invited by the First and Second
Indigenous Assembly Against Mining and Pipelines to help organize and
attend these gatherings. A fundamental principle for NOII is to build
alliances in solidarity with Indigenous communities as we fight against
racism, colonization, and global systems of apartheid.
Photos:http://vancouver.mediacoop.ca/photo/no-mining-native-land/8843

7. We maintained our active support for long-standing land defense
struggles in Secwepemc, Stat’imc, Wet’suwet’en, Dene Suline, and
Tsilhqot’in territories as well as solidarity with Indigenous peoples
impacted by Tar Sands through delegations, court support, organizing panel
discussions, participation in action camps etc. As multiracial settlers,
migrants, refugees and people of colour struggling against racism and
unjust immigration laws, we recognize that our homes and our struggles are
being built on Indigenous lands.
Read more: http://noii-van.resist.ca/?page_id=16

8. In October 2011, we were contacted by Nader, an Iranian refugee who had
been detained and imprisoned by Canadian Border Services Agency since
2005. We raised awareness and mobilized support on his behalf. We even
received correspondence from the Immigration and Refugee Board
Communications Department about our community organizing. In December
2011, Nader was released from detention and granted status as a protected
person!
Read more: http://noii-van.resist.ca/?p=4596

9. Alongside Justicia for Migrant Workers and the Philippine Women’s
Centre, we had our very first flashmob! On International Migrants Day, we
went Christmas carolling throughout the malls of Vancouver and Burnaby,
providing a rousing rendition of “the 12 Days of Minister Kenney.” Video:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y97cAnJ42jU

10. We supported and participated in grassroots movements including: G20
defense, local rallies to defend the Arab Spring, Occupy Together
movement, justice for missing and murdered Indigenous women in the DTES,
BDS actions for Palestine, mining justice organizing, Burnaby
anti-homophobia mobilizing led by high school students, solidarity with
the refugee revolt in Australian detention centres, the CUPW strike, rally
for workers at Brentwood mall, and more.
Photos: http://www.flickr.com/nooneisillegal/

11. We joined the world of social media! Check us out:
Follow our Twitter: https://twitter.com/noii_vancouver
Youtube playlists: http://www.youtube.com/NoOneIsIllegalVan
View our Flickr photo-galleries: http://www.flickr.com/nooneisillegal/
Like our Facebook Page and our Group:
https://www.facebook.com/nooneisillegal and
https://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=6252584281





-- 
Harsha Walia

https://twitter.com/HarshaWalia
https://www.facebook.com/nooneisillegal
http://vancouver.mediacoop.ca/author/dtes-power-women-group



-- 
Harsha Walia

https://twitter.com/HarshaWalia
https://www.facebook.com/nooneisillegal
http://vancouver.mediacoop.ca/author/dtes-power-women-group