Peace Activists to Retest Border Policy
NEW YORK - Two peace activists who were denied entry into Canada because their arrests for protesting the Iraq war landed them on an FBI-run database say they will try again to enter the country on Thursday.
The activists and their supporters presented petitions Tuesday at Canadian consulates in several U.S. cities, demanding that Canada reverse what they say is a policy that keeps foes of the Iraq war from visiting.
“The Bush administration has convinced the Canadian government to do its dirty work, to deny entry to people who are dissenting against Bush administration policies,” said Ann Wright, a retired Army colonel and diplomat who was turned back at the border along with Medea Benjamin of the anti-war group Code Pink.
Wright gave petitions that she said were signed by 15,000 people to an official at the Canadian consulate in New York. Activists left copies of the petitions at Canadian consulates in Washington, Chicago, San Francisco and Los Angeles.
Wright and Benjamin learned when they tried to visit Canada in August that their names were in an FBI-maintained database meant to track fugitives, potential terrorists, missing persons and violent felons. They were told they would have to apply for “criminal rehabilitation” and pay $200 if they ever wanted to visit again.
The women walked into Canada at Niagara Falls on Oct. 3 to test whether they really would be denied entry and were turned back.
Wright, who has traveled to Canada twice in recent years without incident, said the policy appears to be new.
But Derek Mellon, a spokesman with the Canada Border Services Agency, said the requirements have not changed.
“Admissibility of travelers seeking to enter Canada is considered on a case-by-case basis on the specific facts presented by the applicant in each case,” he said. “Several factors are used in determining admissibility into Canada, including involvement in criminal activity, in human rights violations, in organized crime, security, health or financial reasons.”
Mellon said he could not comment on individual cases.
Wright, who resigned as a senior diplomat at the U.S. Embassy in Mongolia in 2003, said she and Benjamin were arrested on misdemeanor charges stemming from anti-war activities.
“It’s not like any of these are felonies,” she said. “These are all peaceful, nonviolent protests and now we find ourselves unable to enter Canada because of it.”
Wright said she and Benjamin planned to fly to Ottowa on Thursday at the invitation of several members of Parliament.
Darren Brunk, a spokesman for Alexa McDonough, a member of Parliament representing Halifax, Nova Scotia, said McDonough and five other members of Parliament from Canada’s left-leaning New Democratic Party sent a letter to Prime Minister Stephen Harper on Friday advising him that they had invited the activists.
“We trust that you will ensure unimpeded entry into Canada, to enable Ms. Benjamin and Col. Wright to share their message of peace with Members of Parliament, and the broader community,” they wrote.
Brunk said the lawmakers planned to meet the women at the airport.
Paul Copeland, an immigration lawyer in Toronto, said there are no criminal trespass provisions in Canada’s criminal code that are equivalent to a trespass misdemeanor in the U.S. “There’s no basis to keep them out,” he said.
Former Prime Minister Pierre Trudeau declared his homeland “a refuge from militarism” during the Vietnam War and allowed 30,000 to 50,000 American draft resisters to settle there. But the Canadian government has denied political asylum to U.S. soldiers who sought it after deserting from duty in Iraq.
Associated Press writer Rob Gillies in Toronto contributed to this report.
© 2007 The Associated Press
Gads. And I just sent in my application for residency in Canada. May I get in anyway. If enough of us get in, maybe we can help Canada from going the way of its southern neighbor. I wonder why people can’t see just how awful it is to live in the spiritually dead U.S.? Or is it that regular people do see but the leacherous, greedy corporations control them as much as they control everything in the U.S.?
nice to see our intelligence services and law enforcement are focusing on the real threats to our democracy, the peace activists…
Good to see we’re focusing on them, and not the terrorists.
What a shame that Canada isn’t taking a stand on this!
Look, the last thing I want is for our law enforcement people to bend themselves into pretzels because your law enforcement people are so screwed up. Here’s the quick rundown:
1. In Canada, criminals who aren’t citizens generally aren’t welcome.
2. Your FBI has told us the Code Pink people are criminals. Not only that, but they’re not Canadian citizens, either.
3. Therefore, they’re not welcome.
Now, I suppose we could go to the risk and expense of starting to maintain exception lists of the people your country tells us are criminals, but how are we going to find out if the individual in question is a criminal or really a political target of your elites? Let’s just say it won’t be by letting them in willy-nilly; we’re way more likely to get people that killed someone or held up a liquor store than genuine political targets by doing that. Nope, that won’t cut it. Now, we’re not really telling your country about “the Bad Peepul” anymore since you guys deported one of our citizens to the ME for a year’s worth of torture, but how are we going to take what your country tells us about “the Bad Peepul” nowadays? Prudence requires us to keep ‘em out.
Nope, it’s not our job to take a stand on this by creating a special exception to the idea that we don’t permit people whose originating countries tell us are criminals into our country to benefit a couple of peace activists, despite the fact that they come from the Shining City On The Hill, the self-proclaimed Last Best Hope.
If they actually want to make a point, they could perhaps try applying for refugee status, pointing to the fact that they have been criminalised by their country for making political speech. Might not be a bad idea to point out that they are in fact “guilty” but are allowed to travel within the US as well as leave and come back, while the demonstrably guiltless Canadian still can’t travel in the US.
A little off the subject but I think relevant. While I truly admire Code Pink’s stances, I believe their tactics are self-indulgent and detract from a unified Anti-war movement. I witnessed a recent protest in Washington where Code Pink members took the stage with their leader and were prancing around, dancing and showing off the “wit” of their costumes.
When I go to an anti-war rally, I have on my mind the somber reality that people are dying needlessly and it doesn’t rouse me to dress up ridiculously and dance. I’m sorry but save your marketing and dancing for your organization’s own rally and show some humbled focus in the unity of a righteous cause. Ego and vanity have killed many a movement.
2lyons - I’m afraid what you see IS the stand of the current Canadian government.
The CBC says about this story: “Canadian officials have told the women they must apply for a temporary resident’s permit the next time they want to visit, said Benjamin.”
http://www.cbc.ca/cp/national/071023/n1023137A.html
One fear is not to let anyone into the country that the Americans won’t let back into theirs.
And the NDP are complaining about it - especially since they were the ones who invited Medea Benjamin and Colonel Ann Wright into Canada to address Parliament.
http://www.ndp.ca/page/5813
I am not going to defend Harper. I do not like him and I did not vote for him.
How much do you know about the Marc Emery case. The Americans want Canada to hand him over to them so that he can serve a life sentence in an American prison. Marc Emery is a former Canadian politician who lists his occupation on his tax return and pays taxes on it. His occupation: Marijuana Seed Vender.
re vaudree 1:21pm
curious about the marc emery case—exactly what u.s. law is he accused of violating?
“While I truly admire Code Pink’s stances, I believe their tactics are self-indulgent and detract from a unified Anti-war movement…”
Agreed. To begin with, it excludes half the US population right off, and probably more than that considering it’s members contain almost no young adults.
And all this cult of celebrity around the pert and petite Medea Benjaman doesn’t furrther the cause either.
Wow, there’s almost no effective anti-war movement in this country besides people writing on message boards, and then everyone takes off and attacks one of the few groups that’s done a damn thing at all in the last few years. The left truly amazes me sometimes.
Does it occur to anyone that if you want an ‘unified antiwar’ movement then maybe you need to accept other groups and tactics besides what you think is best? Sniping at other groups isn’t exactly the way to make an ‘unified antiwar’ movement.
In general, there needs to be some sort of recognition that non-violent civil disobedience ‘crimes’ aren’t a terrible threat. And it goes beyond this issue. For instance, if you listen carefully you’ll hear the FBI and the other state police organs using this same language to spy on political dissidents in the US.
For example, the US political police agencies take as their mandate to investigate any groups that ‘might committ a crime’. Since impeding passage on a sidewalk in the US is a potential ‘crime’, they use this as justification to infiltrate and spy on almost any political dissident group. Their Orwellian talk sounds ok until you realize exactly what this ‘crime’ is. Then you want to break up laughing at the notion of the FBI investigation potential sidewalk blockers until you realize that what this really means is the end of the American experiment in liberty and free speech.
Marc Emery is facing a life sentence if turned over to the US for selling marijuana seeds over the internet. Marc Emery is the former leader of the BC Marijuana party, which he founded.
http://www.cbc.ca/thelens/program_231007.html
Marc Emery on the Hour (he compares himself to Martin Luther King and Ghandi). Marc Emery, former leader of the BC Marijuana Party, figures that Pot should be legalized and, if he dies, plans to come back and haunt people into doing the “right thing”:
http://www.cbc.ca/thehour/video.php?id=713
How are Code Pink any more colourful than the Raging Grannies?
thanks vaudree.
if and when the u.s. extradites to venezuela the two pro-mafia cuban goons, luis posada carriles and orlando bosch, who blew up a civilian airliner, maybe we’ll have regained some of the moral authority to ask for reciprocity (not that i’m equating their crimes with selling hempseed).
It’s too bad that some people posting here failed to distinguish oppressive “law and order” from just law and order but it is not a surprise because our oppressors work very hard to confuse us about what is and is not in our true better interests.
The peace activists are not criminal. Restricting movement of peace activists is an assault on peace, plain and simple. What could possibly excuse the oppression?
Right wing policies should be tested again and again. Right wing policies have no ethical basis whatsoever. Right wing policies are based on OPPRESSION and EXPLOITATION.
“How are Code Pink any more colourful than the Raging Grannies?”
Exactly the point!
At this point, those the USAns and their politicians who are aware there is an antiwar movement at all, can be excused for dismissing it as just a publicity schtick by a small group of pink t-shirt wearing 50-something women, and some singing elderly women in funny hats.
And oh yes - that lone suburban housewife from Vacaville.
So, are we suprised at the embarassinly low response to calls for protest actions this Saturday - in spite of the highest levels of discontent among “mainstream” USAns? The antiwar movement in the US is a disaster!
Thank you Medea and Code Pink.
How come the article we are commenting on doesn’t refer to Ann Wright as a Colonel? Do they accept Rush’s definition of “fake soldier?”
“Ms. Benjamin and Colonel Wright will participate in a panel of distinguished experts including Canadian rights advocate and spouse of Maher Arar, Monia Mazigh, and Roch Tasse, Director of the International Civil Liberties Monitoring Group.” - From NDP website.
Complain to Minister of Foreign Affairs - Maxime Bernier
http://www.conservative.ca/?section_id=1051&linkTo=true&districtId=1305
And Minister of Public Safety - Stockwell Day
http://www.conservative.ca/?section_id=1051&linkTo=true&districtId=1809
You have a Secretary of Defense, we have a Minister of Defense (list of Ministers):
http://www.conservative.ca/EN/4568/
COMarc states “Wow, there’s almost no effective anti-war movement in this country besides people writing on message boards”
As someone who has rode 16 hours on a bus to stand in the frigid cold with fellow protestors in Washingon DC I think your generalizations are a bit shallow.
“Does it occur to anyone that if you want an ‘unified antiwar’ movement then maybe you need to accept other groups and tactics besides what you think is best?”
…you just stated my point… humble yourself and listen to a little constructive criticism from those who have also spent time in the trenches.
Aside from what you may believe there are many groups that have done plenty in recent years in Anti-war efforts… the problem is that its not unified, and some are acting like its a popularity contest… again we turn to the subject of egos and vanity
COMarc said:
“In general, there needs to be some sort of recognition that non-violent civil disobedience ‘crimes’ aren’t a terrible threat. And it goes beyond this issue. For instance, if you listen carefully you’ll hear the FBI and the other state police organs using this same language to spy on political dissidents in the US.”
Look, it’s not up to us to figure that stuff out for you. I esp. think that the last thing I want to see is political figures in Canada deciding on special exemptions etc as that power leads to abuse.
Seriously, if Code Pink wants to make a point, they should apply for refugee status in Canada. Mind you, once they do, they won’t be able to leave so easily… and if they do leave after doing that, I for one will not be very impressed by them as they will be tying up resources that could be used for refugees from other countries that have real reason to fear for their and their families’ safety.
I mean, I think it’s really sad when USAns are so deeply disturbed about their country that they want another country to make their decisions about crime and punishment for them, and get pissed off when they don’t go the way they like. You want the situation changed? You’re a democracy, change the government so as to change those policies.
For those who say the system is rigged… democracy is more than just voting. There’s lots of examples of the people taking on corrupt autocratic regimes and taking them down, no reason why it wouldn’t work down there.
When the “free speech zone” is so far out of the way, it can be a bit discouraging.
it seems that any talk of peace in america, is also off the table. it is so unamerican.
Canada is a signatory to international treaties that require War Crminals to be arrested and tried if they enter the country, yet Bush has been here several times.
But we now stop “misdemeanor trespass” violators????
Stephen Harper…TEAR DOWN THIS WALL!!!..ya freakin Bush bag licker
As long as Canada takes its orders from the FBI, she will remain an ally in the Bush-Cheney War of Terror against the rest of the world.
As long as Code Pink continues to act up, with such courage and such fine style, there’s hope for a better future.
How about nominating Code Pink for next year’s Nobel Peace Prize? I can think of no more deserving individual or group.
Brava Code Pink. You warn us. You Pinks do a lot. Thanks.
Suggesting that anti-war activists should request refugee status is crap. It’s war activists that should be denied entry into every country but with pro-war Harper thats not happening in Canada. The American government helped Harper get elected because he thinks the way Bush does. Don’t expect this ass-backwards policy to change until Harper is gone.
“I mean, I think it’s really sad when USAns are so deeply disturbed about their country that they want another country to make their decisions about crime and punishment for them, and get pissed off when they don’t go the way they like. ”
Not as half as sad as the Canadian government siding with the Bush administration.
Ann Wright, retired army colonel and diplomat, raising a ruckus by dissenting against Bush administration policies. Well…it’s a start! She’s got more balls than Powell.
tenzing and bugsbunny, they are not the only peace activists on the block. Do you think that they should be on The Hour? Or do you think Evan Solomon and Carole MacNeil should get them? Avi’s show is not back on yet.
My guess is that they will get in whether Harper wants them to or not. Will come back here when I have more info. You know the usual sources - CBC, CTV and the NDP website.
thewonderingyou, that would be easy, Colin only has two. Powell at least jumped off the Bush ship.
canuckchuck says: Stephen Harper…TEAR DOWN THIS WALL!!!..ya freakin Bush bag licker
Seems like you got a greater fondness for “Steve” than does Danny Williams. As much as I dislike his policies, I would not call Stephen Harper the Robert Picton of politics - I think Cheney holds that coveted spot.
At least “Doris” was funny. Got milk!
Now that I’ve got that out of my system, one technically cannot invite a world leader to one’s country and arrest them. But once he is out of office …
That is why what has happened to Wright and Benjamin is so wrong - their purpose for being in Canada is to address the House.
bfearn: The American government helped Harper get elected because he thinks the way Bush does.
If you got proof to that regard, Stephane Dion will eagerly become your new best buddy. If Bush and Harper did more than share strategy and give each other opportunities to look good in public, it might be illegal. There are laws concerning financial donations to political parties.
Anyone hear about the IRS providing information to be used at border crossings? If you are a dual citizen, you may be in for a big surprise!
Heaven forbid that Code Pink should ruffle anyone’s sensibilities.
Throw the old bags in jail or ship them off to Canada we do not need reminders of how cruel and painful and destructive and bloody war is.
How dare these brazen unabashed old ladies, the Mothers and Grandmothers of the sons and daughters who are being used as cannon fodder in a war to enrich Haliburton, the Carlyle Group and the oil companies, how dare they protest so vociferously yet non violently.
I always say if you must protest a nightmarish war please keep your voices down and keep the protest unpublicized and quiet.
Thanks again courageous ladies in pink I love you all.
So, PJD, you’re really good at criticizing those who are standing up and speaking out, quite colorfully I might add. What do you suggest as a way of protesting this lazy Congress and authoritarian president? Are you going to tell us all about the things you have been doing over the past 5 years? That’s right, Code Pink formed prior to the invasion, trying to draw attention to the drumbeat for war. They were participating in a lengthy fast in front of the White House in Fall of 2002. What were you doing? They inspired people of all ages and from all around this country to be willing to speak out. Again, what are you doing? Will you be participating in any of the demonstrations scheduled around the country this Saturday? Get off your behind and do something…
To highlight the clashing egos and internecine warfare that go on between anti-war, peace, environmental etc. groups look no further than the Life of Brian and the Judean People’s Front. Or is it the People’s Front of Judea, I don’t remember?:
http://imdb.com/title/tt0079470/quotes
Also, apologies to all, but Canada now has a Bush-lite faith-based government. As with all faith based foreign policy it is dysfunctional and generally useless.
SEQUOIABISON states…
“I always say if you must protest a nightmarish war please keep your voices down and keep the protest unpublicized and quiet.”
Ahhh, the knee jerk reaction of a person that can’t take an ounce of constructive criticism. I know I didn’t claim that publicity and raised voices are a bad thing in light of an illegal and evil war. I did say that a unified front would be more effective. There is a praising choir on this post for Code Pink’s tactics but I hate to inform you that everybody, including a lot of your fellow activists do not feel that way… and its not because it gets media or its loud, its because it presents and creates a divided front.
Like I’ve said before, these tactics have their place but is that the whole of it? We all are outraged and I think a certain niche is drawn to code pink for a variety of reasons… some genuinely positive and some because they simply see no other way of getting involved. The real power lies in effectively mobilizing this outrage… not abstractly striking and retreating and delusionally telling yourself that it was a victory. Ask yourself, was this truly a victory… a step forward in an effort to end the war or a venting of rage that we can all identify with? Venting is fine but does it bring us closer to ending the killing? These are tough questions… of course getting in the face of an evil person and illustrating to them who they really are feels good… but is it effective.
We need quadrants, area chiefs, delegators of responsiblity on mass scale. We need to hit and then mobilize on the effect of that hit. If this was a victory or some type of move forward to stop the war how are we or code pink mobilizing on it? There is an abstraction in the anti war crowd today and you can criticize me all you want but one groups civil disobedience and pink umbrellas is not stopping the war and won’t stop the war.
I’m sure I’ll get hit with a barrage of emotional reactions but ask yourself if those tactics are working. I know the other side is tickled pink by some of the buffoonery that is taking place on the other side.
Man a lot of news happens in america!! Go the peace activists!!
Please reply people
Is it 4:10 am in america?? Coz its 9:12pm where i am
Canada is allowing a real fool like bush to dictate to them? How pathetic is that? Canada! Whoring for the White House? You’re pitiful!
PJD said, “So, are we suprised at the embarassinly low response to calls for protest actions this Saturday - in spite of the highest levels of discontent among “mainstream” USAns? The antiwar movement in the US is a disaster!”
What makes you think the response this Saturday will be low? Why don’t you show up at one of the major demonstrations and see just what a disaster the antiwar movement is? If everyone who sat around criticizing Bush, and the people trying to stop him, got off their duffs and did something, this war would end.
I plan to be in Jonesborough, Tennessee this weekend and until I see what the turnout is like, I plan to be optimistic. Go to www.oct27.org to find out where the demonstrations will be held.
Please do something - Saturday will be a good day to start!
“Our lives begin to end the day we become silent about the things that matter.” Martin Luther King, Jr.
For those that want to go to Canada: talk about about out of the frying pan into the fire. Canada has a GW Bush clone Prime Minister who is turning the clock backward on progressive Canadian values. Is that what you really want?
greatbear215:Canada! Whoring for the White House? You’re pitiful!
So are you comparing Canada to Eva Braun?
Check out “Justiciers Masqués: André Boisclair dans Brokeback Mountain” on youtube (wordless parady of the true relationship between Bush and Harper).
angelahelwig, you should be advertising this on rabble.ca .
Dissent is NOT a crime… it’s a moral obligation in the face of evil. As a Canadian, I DEMAND our government reverse the policy on banning entry to people fraudulently arrested for dissenting against the US government. I will write letters to every MP and harass them until this policy is reversed. I personally welcome US dissenters on behalf of the Canadian people.