AW@L Supports Tamil Refugees, Demands "Let Them Stay"

**AW@L joins the Canada-wide call for actions to demand that the Tamil migrants who have arrived on the MV Sun Sea be immediately released from detention, that their rights be upheld, and that the racist criminalization of refugee claimants ceases immediately.**

WHEN: Monday August 23rd, 7:00pm *NEW TIME*
WHERE: K-W Community Centre for Social Justice, 63 Courtland Ave. E

This afternoon, AW@L will be dropping a banner that reads "Welcome Tamil Migrants" in a highly visible location in Kitchener. Following this action, we are inviting media and the K-W community to come to the KWCCSJ at 7:00pm to hear a statement on this issue and ask questions. This is our response to a national call to action put forth by No One Is Illegal--additional information from them about this day of action is below.

Monday the 23rd is also the day that over 300 people are being brought to court on charges stemming from the G20 demonstrations in Toronto this past June. While the fear-mongering surrounding the G20 protests has pushed forward the criminalization of activists and community organisers, repressive state practices and criminalization of immigrants and refugees, Indigenous people, and low-income communities has intensified as well. However, the outrage over police actions during the G20 has not been mirrored in public response to the MV Sun Sea being targeted and boarded by Canadian Armed Forces, RCMP, and Canada Border Services Agency, detaining all those on board based on unsubstantiated fears. People should be outraged and appalled at this racist, xenophobic act of government enforcement. It is sadly a reality that mass arrests, racist policing, and increased incarcerations of migrants and people of colour are standard tactics in this country. We must challenge these policies so that such acts are not a matter of course but are viewed as unacceptable and are consistently confronted.

We urge you to join us in showing your support for these refugees who have been unjustly demonised and detained!

FROM NO ONE IS ILLEGAL: NATIONAL DAYS OF ACTION TO SUPPORT TAMIL REFUGEES

ACTIONS ACROSS TURTLE ISLAND
*Aug 21, Van: Meet at Van Art Gallery at 3:30pm: http://noii-van.resist.ca/?p=2198*
*Aug 21, Vict: Meet at noon at Information Booth, Government and Belville*
*Aug 21, Unserrenderd Wet'suwet'en Territory, contact gitksanmanoct6@hotmail.com*
*Aug 23, K-W: 7:00pm at the KWCCSJ, 63 Courtland Ave. E*
*Aug 23, Ott: Meet at Noon at corner of Kent and Laurier (CIC Canada)*
*Aug 26, Mtrl: Meet at Noon at 200 Boul. René Levesque(Immigration Refugee Board)*
*See full details at http://noii-van.resist.ca/?p=2198*

Nearly 500 migrants arrived on the MV Sun Sea earlier this month after surviving a three month journey at sea fleeing civil war and rampant oppression in Sri Lanka and choosing to exercise their freedom to move and live freely.

Upon the ship’s arrival near Esquimault, 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 face the threat of incarceration and eventual deportation.

The Canadian government has a long history of harassing and violating the rights of migrants fleeing oppression. In 1939, SS St. Louis arrived in Canada with 739 Jewish refugees seeking sanctuary. Forced to return to Europe, many were killed. In 1914, 354 people arrived in Canada from British occupied India on board the Komagata Maru. Forced to stay off the coast, the ship was turned back four months later. Many died en route and more when they arrived in India by British Police. In 1999, three ships arrived in Canada with 600 people from the Fujian province in China. They were detained for nearly a year and in the end only 15 were granted status. The rest were deported. On their return they were forced into labor camps.

Refusing to let these racist attacks continue, communities across Canada mobilized when 76 Tamil refugees arrived in Canada on October 16, 2009, in the face of intense lies and fear mongering (http://toronto.nooneisillegal.org/node/362).

Now as the Minister of Immigration Jason Kenney and Public Safety Minister Vic Toews label the migrants “terrorists” and drum up fear in the mainstream press, communities across Canada are mobilizing again to stop the jailing and deportations of refugees.

From August 21-27, 2010, join us and take action! See below on other ways to participate.

**** HOW ELSE CAN I SUPPORT? ****

1) Join other cities and communities for 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. This issue is not just the Tamil community's 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).

2) Participate in the Call/E-mail/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. E-mail: Minister@cic.gc.ca and kennej@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. E-mail: toewsv1@mts.net and Toews.V@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

3) 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 e-mail.

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

4) Consider inviting a speaker to your next meeting. E-mail
nooneisillegal@riseup.net and we would be happy to attend or suggest speakers, as well as provide educational materials.

5) Have your organization, traditional council, union, community group, or artist collective write a short public statement of support for the Tamil migrants. Please e-mail us a copy at nooneisillegal@riseup.net

6) Join No One Is Illegal's low-traffic e-mail announcement list to receive news and events. You can subscribe by e-mailing nooneisillegal@riseup.net Our Facebook group is: http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=2232590266.

www.nooneisillegal.org