[Indigsol] SUPPORT THE TAMIL MIGRANTS! Monday August 23 @ Noon LET THEM STAY!

[Indigenous Peoples' Solidarity Movement -Ottawa]

CANADA: STOP JAILING AND DEPORTING REFUGEES, LET THEM STAY!
SUPPORT THE TAMIL MIGRANTS! SAY NO TO RACISM!

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In Ottawa. Monday August 23 @ Noon.
Gather at corner of Kent and Laurier
(Citizenship and Immigration Canada)

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Join No One is Illegal to call for the immediate release of detained Tamil
asylum seekers, and an end to racist and restrictive refugee policies.
Justice, Freedom, and Status for All!

Surviving a journey, 500 Tamil refugees, including women and children,
arrived in BC after fleeing war and persecution in Sri Lanka. When the
ship first neared Equimault Harbour, in the territories of the Songhees
First Nation, it was immediately boarded by the Armed Forces, Border
Services, and RCMP. Families are now being separated, with many children
being taken by the Ministry of Child and Family Development. The refugees
now face the threat of incarceration and eventual deportation.

Canadian government officials and media outlets are perpetuating false and
dehumanizing stereotypes of ‘illegals’, ‘terrorists’, and so-called
queue-jumpers. The earlier arrival of 76 Tamil migrants on Ocean Lady was
similarly sensationalized. This deliberately created hysteria appeals to
prejudices of refugees as undesirable.

This fear-mongering is just another tactic used to disguise the racist
policies that define Canada’s immigration and refugee system. The Canadian
government was recently forced to apologize for its “keep Canada white”
measures, such as the Komagata Maru incident. Yet Minister of Censorship
and Deportation Jason Kenney continues to increase detentions and
deportation of refugees and undocumented migrants, while bringing in more
temporary exploitable migrant labour. Public Safety Minister Vic Toews
recently declared that Cabinet is drafting new policies to clamp down on
migrants and “make this country less welcoming for future shipments of
human cargo.”

No One is Illegal-Ottawa asserts the basic human right to safety,
mobility, and protection. It is well known that Tamils in Sri Lanka are
fleeing military atrocities and mass displacement. The only crime the
migrants have committed is transgressing this imposed settler-colonial
border. We encourage you to join us in rejecting repressive, racist, and
exclusionary ideologies and policies, and instead encourage compassion,
solidarity, respect for life, and justice for all refugees. Release
Detained Asylum-Seekers! Let the Boat Stay! Status for All!

LET THEM STAY

NO ONE IS ILLEGAL

No One is Illegal (NOII) Ottawa is a coalition of migrants and allies that
advocates and fights for the rights, dignity, and respect of immigrants
and refugees, as well as those living without status in Canada. we are
against capitalism and we believe in abolishing borders. We call for
Status For All.
We also stand in solidarity with the struggles of indigenous peoples for
land, self-determination and sovereignty

Contact us: noiiottawa at gmail.com

For more information about No One Is Illegal visit www.nooneisillegal.org



*** HOW ELSE CAN I SUPPORT? ***
THERE ARE 10 THINGS YOU COULD DO!
http://noii-van.resist.ca/?p=2198

1) Join other cities and communities for nation-wide actions. Wherever you
maybe, whatever you can organize (delegation to a Minister’s office,
street theatre, leafleting, community speak-out), will help build this
movement. Please email noii-van at resist.ca and let us know how you can
participate.

2) Sign the online petition here:
http://www.petitiononline.com/16082010/petition.html

3) Engage in dialogue and widely circulate the factsheet on the 6 most
popular myths about the 490 Tamil Refugees, available here:
http://noii-van.resist.ca/?p=2167

4) Put up posters in your neighbourhood, workplace, and campus, and as
your social media profile. We have ‘Let them Stay’ and ‘Anti Neo Nazi,
Fight Racism’ posters available here:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/nooneisillegal/. PDF’s: http://bit.ly/9HBtGa
and http://bit.ly/cgM3gK

5) Participate in the Call/Email/Fax Campaign to the Government and your
MP. State your support for the refugees to stay in Canada and denounce the
government for spreading unsubstantiated racist lies. This is easy to do
and you can tell others to do the same!

Jason Kenney, Minister of Citizenship and Immigration
Phone 613-992-2235 or 403-225-3480. Fax 403-225-3504 or 613-992-1920.
Email: Minister at cic.gc.ca and kennej at parl.gc.ca

Vic Toews, Minister of Public Safety
Phone: (204) 326-9889 or (204)345-9762 or (613) 992-3128.
Fax: (204) 346-9874 or (204) 345-9768 or (613) 995-1049
Email: toewsv1 at mts.net and Toews.V at parl.gc.ca

To find out who your MP is and where to write them:
http://www2.parl.gc.ca/Parlinfo/Compilations/HouseOfCommons/MemberByPostalCode.aspx?Menu=HOC

6) Always take a minute to write letters to the editor and comment on news
stories - make a difference in public discourse! Reinforce your support
for the migrants and condemn irresponsible reporting including repeating
unsubstantiated lies and giving white supremacists like Paul Fromm a
platform. All letters must be short (100 words), include name, mailing
address and daytime phone number of the writer; state “Letter to the
Editor” in subject; and content should be in the body of the email.

Globe and Mail: letters at globeandmail.com
Vancouver Sun: sunletters at png.canwest.com
Vancouver Province: provletters at png.canwest.com
24 Hours: news at sunmedia.ca
Metro News: http://www.metronews.ca/Vancouver/comment/lettereditor
National Post: letters at nationalpost.com
Toronto Star: lettertoed at thestar.ca

7) Take your own initiative. This issue is not just the Tamil communities’
or for migrant justice organizers. The growing racist backlash that is
taking root should concern all of us. Think of creative ways to disrupt
this xenophobic climate (do a banner drop, host a community picnic, take
some friends postering, organize a forum or press conference, distribute
anti-racist zines, take action at the prison).

8) Consider inviting a speaker to your next meeting. Email
noii-van at resist.ca and we would be happy to attend or suggest speakers, as
well as provide educational materials.

9) Have your organization, traditional council, union, community group, or
artist collective write a short public statement of support for the Tamil
migrants. Please email us a copy at noii-van at resist.ca.

10) Join our low-traffic email announcement list to receive news and
events. You can subscribe yourself
https://lists.resist.ca/mailman/listinfo/noii-l.

Our Facebook group is:
http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=6252584281&ref=ts.

Join the Facebook group Uphold the Rights of the MV Sun Sea Migrants here:
http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=106719212717437

Visit our website regularly for articles: http://noii-van.resist.ca/




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