By Bruce Beyer:
Jeremy Hinzman 82 Airborne, Afghanistan. Phil McDowell 1st Cavalry Division, Iraq. Kimberly Rivera 2-17 Field Artillery, Iraq. Dale Landry US Army, Iraq. Chuck Wiley 17 year Chief Petty Officer US Navy. All veterans, all war resisters presently living and seeking asylum in Canada.
On Tuesday May 25, Vietnam veteran Russell Brown and I drove to Toronto to stand with the War Resisters Support Campaign in solidarity with Afghanistan war resister Jeremy Hinzman as his lawyer presented an appeal to the Canadian courts regarding his claim for refugee status. Along with Jeremy, Russell and I met with the aforementioned young Americans on the streets outside the courtroom as well as members of the War Resisters Support Campaign (WRSC).
For the past seven years the WRSC has worked tirelessly in support of American war resisters seeking humanitarian asylum in Canada because of their opposition to the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq. They have fed and clothed, housed and legally defended hundreds of newly arriving veterans of these wars; young American men and women who have come to the realization they can no longer participate in war.
On Friday June 4th at 7:00pm members of the Campaign will be in Buffalo to preview their new film “War Resisters Speak Out” a documentary film by Alex Lisman featuring CBC radio host and Vietnam era war resister Andy Barrie in dialogue with present day resisters. The event will take place at Hallwalls (341 Delaware Ave) and will be followed by a panel discussion with members of the Campaign able to cross the US/Canadian border.
War Resisters Speak Out
Friday, June 4th 7:00-10:00pm
Hallwalls Contemporary Art Center
341 Delaware Ave.