September 16, 2008 News

War resisters move to stay

by Ion Etxebarria

PHOTO Ion Etxebarria

Around 75 people picketed Guy Favreau Federal Building as part of the Pan-Canadian day of action against the deportation of conscientious objector Jeremy Hinzman. An objector of the War in Iraq, Hinzman was ordered two years ago to leave Canada on Sept. 23 of this year or face the risk of deportation to the United States.

Among the demonstrators was Michael Hendricks, a Concordia Fine Arts graduate, who sought refuge in Canada in 1968 evading the Vietnam War.

On June 3, 2008, a majority of Members in the House of Commons voted by 137 to 110 to stop all deportation proceedings against conscientious objectors from the U.S.

Despite that decision Canada deported American national Robin Long on July 15, who was sentenced by a martial court to 15 months in a military prison for desertion.