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UPDATE # 31
LIFT THE 2-YEARS BAN ON ALISON BODINE
Alison Bodine Defence C0mmittee Meeting
Monday, July 21, 2008 7:00pm
Large North Hall
Joe’s Café (Commercial Dr. @ William St.)
UPDATE:
Federal Court of Canada upholds the 2-year ban against anti-war activist, Alison Bodine!
On July 14, 2008, the Federal Court of Canada announced the latest decision in the case of Alison Bodine, an anti-war activist fighting a 2-year ban from Canada. Alison, a US citizen and the co-chair of Vancouver anti-war coalition Mobilization Against War & Occupation (MAWO), was politically targeted and banned from Canada last fall. On June 12, 2008 Alison took her case to the Federal Court of Canada in a judicial review and challenge of the ban.
Unfortunately, the Federal Court decision was to uphold the two-year ban from Canada against Alison. In our opinion, this is a further attempt to deny justice in this case with the legal block of maintaining the original decision to ban Alison from Canada.
During these 8 months of the ban so far, Alison has been in the United States and has met with many anti-war activists and organizers, gathering support for her case - from organizers in International ANSWER antiwar coalition to CODE Pink Women for Peace. In Vancouver, the Alison Bodine Defence Committee (ABDC) has continued to campaign for more public support for her case and political pressure on the Minister of Citizenship and Immigration with the support of dozens of organizations, MPs, and other prominent individuals.
Despite the Federal Court decision, the Alison Bodine Defence Committee will continue to fight to have the 2-year ban lifted. The Minister of Citizenship and Immigration, Diane Finley, still has the power to lift the ban against Alison at any time and the “Alison Bodine Lift the 2-year Ban 10 000 Petition Drive” will continue in order to put pressure on her. At this point we have already reached more than 3,600 signatures!
In the upcoming ABDC meeting we will discuss and plan our strategies and actions for this next phase in fighting the unjust 2-year ban. ABDC calls on all social justice and anti-war activists committed to defending the human and democratic rights of immigrants, refugees, and non-status people to join in this struggle!
778-881-6156604-780-4029
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UPDATE #30
Alison Bodine Defence Committee Meeting
Monday June 23 @ 7pm
in the Large North Hall of Joe's Cafe (on Commercial Drive at Williams St)
Case Update # 30: Alison Bodine Defence Committee Fills the Courtroom at Alison’s Judicial Review Hearing!
>>> NEXT ABDC MEETING:
MONDAY June 23rd
North Hall of Joe's Café
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Alison Bodine Defence Committee
UPDATE #27
May 4th 2008
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PARTIAL VICTORY FOR THE ALISON BODINE DEFENCE COMMITTEE:
THE FEDERAL COURT OF CANADA GRANTS ALISON BODINE A JUDICIAL REVIEW OF HER CASE!
Alison Bodine has been granted a judicial review by the Federal Courtof Canada, the hearing date has been set for June 12, 2008, when her lawyer will present our case to have the 2-year ban against her lifted. This is a partial victory for the Alison Bodine Defence Committee (ABDC) that has been fighting for justice since Alison was arrested in the fall of 2007.
The campaign to have the 2-year ban against Alison lifted has run along two paths. The political side that has been fighting to put pressure on Immigration Minister Diane Finley to lift the ban, and the legal side fighting to have the case heard in front of the Federal Court. This decision is a partial victory for the legal campaign, but also the beginning of a new drive for more signatures. In getting the support of every person in Canada who believes in the human and democratic rights for all people, including people without residence or status, we can win against this injustice!
Following Alison's ban from Canada on November 17, 2007, the Alison Bodine Defence Committee (ABDC) launched a broad campaign for 10,000 signatures on a petition demanding "Lift the 2-year Ban!" This campaign has collected over 2,000 signatures, adding to the letters and signatures collected in the months when ABDC was fighting to have the charges dropped against Alison Bodine.The campaign has received wide-spread support, from Canada-wide organizations such as the Canadian Federation of Students, alongside NDP MP's and MLA's, and groups from the United States like International A.N.S.W.E.R., the Green Party-USA and more.
On Saturday, November 17, 2007, anti-war and social justice activist Alison Bodine was forced to leave Canada under the exclusion order and 2-year ban from Canada issued by the Immigration & Refugee Board ofCanada (IRB). In September 2007, Alison was targeted and harassed as a political activist after Canada Border Services agents found anti-war and social justice materials in her car. The political targeting continued when she attempted to exit Canada on September 13th and was arrested by Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA). Currently Alison Bodine is co-chair, executive committee member and spokesperson of Mobilization Against War and Occupation (MAWO) in Vancouver, BC. Her hearing on the false and unjust charge of 'misrepresentation' took place on October 11th. On October 31st, the decision was released, ordering her to leave Canada by November 17th and imposing the 2-year ban from the country.
With renewed energy to continue this battle for human and democratic rights, the Alison Bodine Defence Committee will continue to take this campaign everywhere possible. Join the 10,000 signatures campaign to lift the 2-year ban and reverse this injustice against antiwar activists and all people in Canada!
All social justice loving people are called to join us for the next organizing and planning meeting of the Alison Bodine Defence Campaign:
Monday May 9th
Joe's Cafe
1150 Commercial Drive (@ William St.)
7:00pm
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NOVEMBER 17th, 2007
The ban from Canada of antiwar activist Alison Bodine begins, over 70 supporters join her to see her across the border in a show of solidarity.
Check out the media coverage of Alison's departure:
CBC NEWS STORY ON THE EXCLUSION ON ALISON BODINE - Nov 17, 2007
CLICK HERE TO SEE THE FULL CBC NEWS INTERVIEW WITH ALISON FROM THE NIGHT OF HER EXCLUSION FROM CANADA - Nov 17 2007
For the CKNW Article Click Here
For the METRO Newspaper Coverage Nov 19 (news in brief) Click here
For the METRO Newspaper Coverage Nov 20 (letters section) Click here
Onward to Victory!
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NOVEMBER 16th, 2007
Alison addressed the opening night of the BC NDP Convention,
Alison with Federal NDP Leader, Jack Layton