[van-announce] Reminder.. Jan 21 (Sat) Border Action at Peace Arch

[harsha at resist.ca]

STAND VIGILANT AGAINST RACISM AND IMMIGRANT SCAPEGOATING!

Saturday, January 21st, noon to 2 pm at the Peace Arch

To reserve a seat in carpool:
email whatcomsolidarity at tripod.com or call (360)927-9765 in Washington
email noii-van at resist.ca or call 778-552-2099 in Vancouver.

***************

The Whatcom County Farm Worker Solidarity Committee and No One is
Illegal-Vancouver invite you to the Peace Arch for a day of public protest
and education against the Minuteman Project and against government
anti-immigrant policies.

Since April of 2005, the Minutemen have engaged in the targeting of
racialized communities under the pretext of preserving U.S. security. The
Minuteman Project has arisen out of a history of vigilante groups
patrolling the U.S/Mexico border against “illegals” and “potential
terrorists”. The post 9/11 climate has perpetuated the false association
between migrants and terrorism. A new anti-terrorist paradigm guides
enforcement and immigration matters are now contextualized within the “war
on terrorism” where the result is an increased number of abuses of
migrants and racialized communities.

In the US, on December 26, 2005 by a vote of 239-182 the House of
Representatives passed the "Border Protection, Antiterrorism, and Illegal
Immigration Control Act of 2005" (H.R. 4437). Federal Bill HR 4437, now up
for vote in the Senate, aims to further militarize the US borders and
further criminalize migrants and promote civilian surveilance activities. 
The Act seeks to implement biometric data enhancements, makse being an
undocumented person a crime, and increases the availability of Department
of Defense surveillance equipment along the US international land and
maritime borders.  The Act relies on cross-border security agreements with
Mexico and Canada that would allow and seeks to domestically establish a
national border strategy as well as a university based Center of
Excellence for Border Security.

In Canada, the upcoming federal election has of course meant token
lip-service to immigration issues. No matter who wins in this election,
our communities will still be struggling against security certificates and
anti-terrorism legislation, fighting against ongoing detention and
deporatations, and continuing to demand an end to the Safe Third Country
Agreement and other exclusionary border integration agreements.
Directly-affected immigrants and refugees have been challenging federal
politicians all across the country over the past few weeks on their record
of anti-immigrant measures. We demand justice and dignity!