[Stopwar-l] Tonight! Vigil and Forum marking 10 years since Iraq War began

[StopWar]

This is a reminder about tonight's forum with Rodney Watson Jr. and Riadh
Muslih, which starts at 7pm at First United Church.

There is also a vigil tonight to mark the 10 year anniversary of the Iraq
War, starting at 6pm at Victory Square, organized by Siraat. Vigil
participants plan to walk over to First United for the forum at 7pm.

Please share this reminder with your networks.

***

Ten Years On: Remembering the Iraq War, Celebrating those who resisted

Tuesday, March 19 at 7pm
First United Church – 320 E. Hastings (at Gore Street)

With speakers including:
-Riadh R. Muslih, Iraqi-born Canadian
-Rodney Watson Jr., US Iraq War resister in sanctuary

Ten years on:

Join us in a gathering to remember the Iraq War and to celebrate those who
resisted it. In the months leading up to March 19, 2003, there were
massive protests across Canada and around the world against war — February
15, 2003 still stands as the largest coordinated protest in human history.
But the war went ahead, taking a devastating toll on the people of Iraq,
with hundreds of thousands killed and millions displaced. Riadh R. Muslih
is an Iraqi-born Canadian. His father, Rashid Muslih, was a former
interior minister who was executed in January 1970. This occurred two
years after the Baath party, which Saddam Hussein controlled, took power.

Many of those who resisted the war also paid a heavy price. This includes
U.S. war resisters who came to Canada to avoid fighting and killing in an
immoral war. Rodney Watson Jr. is one of these brave war resisters. For
over 3 years, he has been staying in sanctuary at First United Church to
avoid deportation to the United States, where he would face persecution
for his refusal to return to fight in the war. The Conservative
government, led by Stephen Harper who ten years ago supported the U.S.
war, has refused to grant asylum to war resisters seeking to come to
Canada as refugees.

Admission Free. Donations are welcome.

-- 
StopWar - Vancouver's Labour/Community coalition of organizations united
for Justice and Peace

stopwar at resist.ca
http://stopwarca.wordpress.com/

Twitter: @StopWarCa
Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/pages/StopWarCa-Vancouver-Coalition-for-Justice-Peace/114887768615257