[Sanctuarycity_hamilton] Fw: Toronto, Sep 4, 7pm: EMERGENCY RALLY - REFUGEES WELCOME!

Fri Sep 4 19:03:08 PDT 2015

Hey all,

I updated the national press release to be local specific to send out
tomorrow.  Blake, I put you as the media contact for now unless Yen would
like to do it.  Let me know if there are any other local specifics or other
information that should be added.

caitlin

*MEDIA RELEASE*

September 5, 2015, Hamilton ON

Refugees Welcome! Actions Taking Place Across Canada

Hamilton Vigil, Saturday, September 5th at 7pm, outside the Federal
Building, Bay St at York Blvd

*Local Organizer: Sanctuary Hamilton*

Local Media Contact:

Blake McCall, Organizer, Sanctuary Hamilton 289-700-9368

Overhaul demanded of Canadian immigration policies.

Canada - Migrant and refugee rights groups across Canada are demanding that
Minister Alexander and Prime Minister Stephen Harper answer for the deaths
of Ghalib Kurdi, five, and his three-year-old brother Alan and open up
Canada to welcome refugees. There are almost 60 million displaced people
around the globe this year, and over 45,000 people have died crossing
borders since 2000 yet the Canadian government only assisted 5,790 refugees
to resettle in 2013. Meanwhile the Canadian government deported 117,531
people between 2006 and 2014, including to countries with official
moratoriums on deportation, the majority refused refugees. Nearly half a
million more have been forced into precarity and exploitation by remaining
despite a deportation order (see latest research at www.neverhome.ca). German
residents have convinced their government to allow over 800,000 refugees to
enter the country, while over 10,000 Icelandic families have opened their
homes to refugees. Canada needs to do far more than accept 10,000 refugee
immediately - a massive overhaul of the immigration system needs to take
place so that all migrants and refugees can move freely.

Rallies and marches in Ajax, Calgary, Edmonton, Fredericton, Hamilton,
London, Montreal, Ottawa, Quebec City, Saskatoon, St. Catharines, St
John's, Toronto, Vancouver Coast Salish Territories, Victoria, Winnipeg.  More
being announced every minute.

Events are endorsed by No One Is Illegal, Council of Canadians, Justice for
Migrant Workers, Greenpeace Canada, Ontario Coalition Against Poverty,
UNIFOR Canada and others, see full list here
<https://www.facebook.com/events/1703064886579884/permalink/1703590933193946/>
.

Cross-Canada Media Contacts

cross-Canada info: www.facebook.com/events/1703064886579884/

Toronto: Syed Hussan, No One Is Illegal - Toronto - 416 453 3632 / Sardaar
Saadi, Kurdish Community Member, 416 878 0170

Vancouver: Sozan Savehilaghi, No One Is Illegal and Kurdish community
member, 778 322 5349

Montréal : Jaggi Singh, Solidarité sans frontières – 438-823-7243 /
Rosalind Wong, Solidarité sans frontières - 514 220 6515

More events being added at: www.facebook.com/events/1703064886579884/.
<https://docs.google.com/document/d/1tiVWcBqEn4YVD4RNSYEXiX1yGu8OdnQ9IIF495_8Ai0/edit?usp=sharing>

BACKGROUND

- Canadian allies and corporations profit from displacement: The Kurdi
family is Kurdish Syrians who face repression from the Turkish government,
a key Canadian ally. Yemenis are escaping as a result of Saudi bombardment,
also a Canadian ally; while Palestinians are the world's largest refugee
population displaced largely by Israel, also a Canadian ally. One of the
largest African refugee groups are Eritreans, displaced by a government
propped up by Canadian corporations like Nevsun which has repeatedly been
found using slave labour.

- The entire system is exclusionary: Most low-waged and racialized people
can only come into Canada as migrant workers. Family sponsorship has
becoming temporary, refugee application and acceptance rates have dropped
and rates of citizenship have collapsed. All while detentions and
deportations have grown. See www.neverhome.ca for more.

- Deaths abound in the system: Though the Kurdi family died because
Canadian immigration policies made it impossible for them to come here by
regular means, their deaths are not an anomaly. Migrants like Lucia Vega
Jimenez and Abdurrahman Ibrahim Hassan died after being detained
indefinitely without charge or trial. Most of the over half a million
undocumented immigrants in Canada are denied healthcare, and face painful
death when they fall seriously ill. Migrant workers injured in Canada are
deported without access to healthcare and often die as a result. Similarly,
many of the over 13,000 refugees deported each have died after being denied
status in Canada and deported.

- Massive transformation is possible: German residents have convinced their
government to allow over 800,000 refugees to enter the country, while over
10,000 Icelandic residents have opened their homes to refugees. Canada
needs to do far more than accept 10,000 refugee immediately; rather a
massive overhaul of the immigration system needs to take place so that all
migrants and refugees can move freely. At the same time, Canadian
government and corporations to cease support and profiting from regimes
that are causing displacement to create the conditions for migrant to
return home if they wish to.

2015-09-04 19:44 GMT-04:00 blake mccall <bwmccall at hotmail.com>:

> Yen are you comfortable being spokesperson? If not I will.
>
> B
>
> Sent from my iPhone
>
> On 2015-09-04, at 4:41 PM, "Caitlin Craven" <caitlin.e.craven at gmail.com>
> wrote:
>
> How about media?  I can do a press release tonight with the flyer.  Does
> someone want to be the contact here? (there are national contacts as well
> on the main event page).
>
> does anyone remember the name of the not terrible reporter from cbc who
> covered farai's case? i can send to them and the spec and immigrant women's
> centre press.
>
> 2015-09-04 16:01 GMT-04:00 Caitlin Craven <caitlin.e.craven at gmail.com>:
>
>> Event is posted to our website as well.
>>
>> All I could find was their names - Mirna Khalil and her sons Marc and
>> Mathieu Esso.  I couldn't find the facebook page for the organizing, so I'm
>> not sure how we would go about contacting any of the organizers unless you
>> wanted to touch base with Ken Stone ...
>>
>> Maria is posting the facebook event to the Legal Clinic blog.
>>
>> Caitlin
>>
>> 2015-09-04 15:23 GMT-04:00 blake mccall <bwmccall at hotmail.com>:
>>
>>> Hey folks,
>>>
>>> Here is the fb event page
>>>
>>> https://www.facebook.com/events/1597092303885831/
>>>
>>> Let me know if you think I have forgot any information.
>>>
>>> I have emailed NOII with the info. I'll try to get an email out the
>>> supporters list before I head for work.
>>>
>>> Also Caitlin I do not have the info from the 19th rally, However I like
>>> the idea of inviting them can you send me the info or you can send an email
>>> cc me.
>>>
>>> B
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> ------------------------------
>>> From: yenbchu at yahoo.ca
>>> Date: Fri, 4 Sep 2015 14:51:25 -0400
>>> To: caitlin.e.craven at gmail.com
>>>
>>> CC: sanctuarycity_hamilton at lists.resist.ca
>>> Subject: Re: [Sanctuarycity_hamilton] Fw: Toronto, Sep 4, 7pm: EMERGENCY
>>> RALLY - REFUGEES WELCOME!
>>>
>>> Sounds good to me. I'm around this evening and all day tomorrow.
>>>
>>> Let me know what I can do. I can contact NGen and BBRM and the United
>>> Church this afternoon.
>>>
>>> Let's do this!
>>>
>>> On Sep 4, 2015, at 2:22 PM, Caitlin Craven <caitlin.e.craven at gmail.com>
>>> wrote:
>>>
>>> Hi folks,
>>>
>>> I like this idea, if there are people to make it happen.  I could work
>>> on a small flyer with the info that was sent out and send it to Blake on
>>> Saturday to print.
>>>
>>> If we do this, we should also have a couple signs and some pictures
>>> indicating ALL the migrants we are mourning.  Signs can use the hashtags
>>> and slogans that NOII already put out for consistency.
>>>
>>> Facebook event should be sent to NOII so they can help with promo
>>>
>>> Speakers ...hmm...Blake, do you still have the email from that rally on
>>> June 19th against the deportation of the two teens (they were Syrian I
>>> believe, being deported to Lebanon).  There might be some organizers to
>>> reach out to from that group.  If not, McMaster Muslims for Peace and
>>> Justice?
>>>
>>> Those are my thoughts, but of course depends on if there are folks in
>>> town who can make it happen.
>>>
>>> Caitlin
>>>
>>> 2015-09-04 13:53 GMT-04:00 blake mccall <bwmccall at hotmail.com>:
>>>
>>> Hey folks,
>>>
>>> I think we can pull off a small vigil this weekend. I  propose that we
>>> hold a candle light vigil Saturday Sept 5 at 7pm in front of the the
>>> federal building (or city hall where more traffic would see us).
>>>
>>> I will buy and bring candles and matches to event.
>>> I will make fb event
>>>
>>> We need a small flyer
>>> We need to invite our supporters via email, we should also invite
>>> Hamilton Muslim Association, United Church immigration committee. (any
>>> other organizations we should invite?)
>>>
>>> Do we want someone to speak at the event? (I think yes, who should that
>>> be?)
>>>
>>> What else should we do at the event?
>>>
>>> If people can respond asap if they are able to be there at this time and
>>> help to do some of the prep work.
>>>
>>> I leave for work at 5pm so would like to make the fb event by then.
>>>
>>> Did I leave anything out?
>>>
>>> In Soli,
>>> Blake
>>>
>>>
>>> ------------------------------
>>> Date: Fri, 4 Sep 2015 09:07:50 -0400
>>> From: caitlin.e.craven at gmail.com
>>> To: yenbchu at yahoo.ca
>>> CC: sanctuarycity_hamilton at lists.resist.ca
>>> Subject: Re: [Sanctuarycity_hamilton] Fw: Toronto, Sep 4, 7pm: EMERGENCY
>>> RALLY - REFUGEES WELCOME!
>>>
>>>
>>> I have to be out of town this weekend for a family issue, so I am not
>>> going to be around to help plan much.  We could try strategizing around the
>>> labour day picnic (ie have people there?).  In the meantime, sending the
>>> call-out to our list makes sense to me (I will do this today).
>>>
>>> Do others think they have enough capacity this weekend if I ask
>>> supporters to write back if they want to co-organize a small media event or
>>> vigil? I am sorry I am not more available for this, but I'll respond as I
>>> can to the conversation.
>>>
>>> cheers,
>>> Caitlin
>>>
>>> 2015-09-03 19:55 GMT-04:00 Yen Chu <yenbchu at yahoo.ca>:
>>>
>>> Do we want to organize one?
>>>
>>>
>>> On Thursday, September 3, 2015 7:03 PM, No One Is Illegal - Toronto <
>>> nooneisillegal at riseup.net> wrote:
>>>
>>>
>>> *please forward widely!!*
>>>
>>> *Sep 4: Refugees welcome!*
>>>
>>> * Aylan, Galip and Rehan should be here.*
>>> * We want safety and welcome for all.*
>>> *Freedom to move, stay and return.*
>>>
>>> * TORONTO*
>>> *Friday, September 4th, 7pm*
>>> *Yonge-Dundas Square.*
>>>
>>> Sep 4- 7:A cross-country weekend of mobilization.
>>> Actions taking place across the country, find one near you or organize
>>> your own: www.facebook.com/events/1703064886579884/
>>>
>>> Let us know by emailing refugeeswelcomeCA at gmail.com so we can help
>>> promote it.
>>>
>>> This is a last minute call-out, and we need your help to spread the
>>> word. Use the hashtag #refugeeswelcome #freedomtomove to share
>>> http://toronto.nooneisillegal.org/TORefugeesWelcome on Twitter and
>>> Facebook.
>>>
>>> *BACKGROUND*
>>>
>>> With images and stories in the media on the migrant crisis from Syria
>>> and the surrounding areas, the deaths of the Aylan, Galip and Rehan Kurdi
>>> has shone a light on the complicity of the Canadian governments, its
>>> corporations and allies in this crisis. Thousands of Eritrean, Somali,
>>> Syrian, Yemeni, and Balkan refugees are dying on the shores of Fortress
>>> Europe; as Latin Americans have died enroute to the United States of
>>> America.
>>>
>>> Due to discriminatory restrictions implemented by the federal
>>> government, the number of refugee claims in Canada decreased by 50 percent
>>> and the number of accepted refugees dropped by 30 percent between 2006 and
>>> 2012. These laws and policies have caused untold misery and death. In
>>> Canada today, citizenship is harder to get, and easier to lose. Most
>>> racialized and poor migrants can only come here as short-term migrant
>>> workers, easily deported. Thousands of migrant workers and undocumented
>>> people have died after being denied services in Canada or been deported or
>>> repatriated after being injured to their death. Read more about Canadian
>>> immigraton policies at www.neverhome.ca
>>>
>>> The Canadian government in alliance with resource-extractive
>>> corporations along with their European and American partners have been
>>> profiting from the wars, environmental collapse and economic depressions of
>>> many countries in the South resulting in over 52 million displaced people
>>> around the globe.
>>>
>>> At the same time, communities are rising up across the globe. In Germany
>>> and Iceland, tens of thousands of people have forced open the borders, and
>>> opened their homes to refugees. It’s time for us to do the same.
>>>
>>> Read more:
>>> On the Syrian crisis:
>>> http://www.aljazeera.com/indepth/opinion/2015/05/ticking-time-bomb-syrian-refugees-150509062906684.html
>>> On the migrant crisis:
>>> https://www.jacobinmag.com/2015/09/refugee-crisis-mediterranean-europe-syria-libya/
>>> On the role of Canadian corporations in displacement:
>>> https://canadiandimension.com/articles/view/bad-neighbours
>>> On the links between climate change and displacement:
>>> http://www.huffingtonpost.com/anika-rahman/climateinduced-migration-_b_6497652.html
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> *+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++*
>>>
>>> *Email:* nooneisillegal at riseup.n et <nooneisillegal at riseup.net>
>>> *Web:* http://toronto.nooneisill egal.org
>>> <http://toronto.nooneisillegal.org/>
>>>
>>> *Join our low traffic email announcements list*
>>> https://lists.riseup.net/www/s ubrequest/nooneisillegal
>>> <https://lists.riseup.net/www/subrequest/nooneisillegal>
>>>
>>> *Like and follow*
>>> http://www.facebook.com/groups /NoOneIsIllegalToronto/
>>> <http://www.facebook.com/groups/NoOneIsIllegalToronto/>
>>> www.facebook.com/NoOneIsIllega lNetwork
>>> <http://www.facebook.com/NoOneIsIllegalNetwork>
>>> wwww.twitter.com/nooneisillega l
>>> <http://t.sidekickopen07.com/e1t/c/5/f18dQhb0S7lC8dDMPbW2n0x6l2B9nMJW7t5XX43LQ9-YW8q-tb664zPzbW3LqXLC56dGhPdXlyx402?t=http://wwww.twitter.com/nooneisillegal&si=4623279745138688&pi=8b9e93b3-e124-4886-983a-ed855684a3f0>
>>> www.youtube.com/nooneisillegal
>>>
>>> *Support us*
>>> http://toronto.nooneisillegal. org/support
>>> <http://toronto.nooneisillegal.org/support>
>>>
>>> *Organize with us*
>>> http://toronto.nooneisillegal.
>>> <http://toronto.nooneisillegal.org/meetings> org/meetings
>>> <http://t.sidekickopen07.com/e1t/c/5/f18dQhb0S7lC8dDMPbW2n0x6l2B9nMJW7t5XX43LQ9-YW8q-tb664zPzbW3LqXLC56dGhPdXlyx402?t=http://toronto.nooneisillegal.org/meetings&si=4623279745138688&pi=8b9e93b3-e124-4886-983a-ed855684a3f0>
>>>
>>> *No One Is Illegal-Toronto* is an all volunteer grassroots migrant
>>> justice organization that fights for livelihood, food, education,
>>> healthcare, childcare, shelter, accessible services, freedom of movement,
>>> justice and dignity for all people, particularly undocumented and migrant
>>> worker communities in Toronto. We also act in solidarity with
>>> Indigenous movements for self-determination and organize against wars,
>>> economic and environmental attacks that push people out of their homes in
>>> the first place.
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> _______________________________________________
>>> Sanctuarycity_hamilton mailing list
>>> Sanctuarycity_hamilton at lists.resist.ca
>>> https://lists.resist.ca/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/sanctuarycity_hamilton
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> _______________________________________________ Sanctuarycity_hamilton
>>> mailing list Sanctuarycity_hamilton at lists.resist.ca
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>>>
>>>
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>>>
>>>
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>>>
>>
>>
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