Photos of the Toronto rally for US war resisters, part II (dial-up warning)

[JeffR]

More pics from yesterday's rally.

Part I can be found here: http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=389x2774058

Member of Parliament Olivia Chow. Chow is married to NDP Leader Jack Layton:





Jazz musician Bill King plays Dylan:



Heartbreaking stories from a war resister with 17 years service behind him:



Firing up the crowd for a march to a nearby post office, where approximately 900 letters of support for the resisters were mailed to Prime Minister Stephen Harper, Liberal Leader Stéphane Dion, and Immigration Minister Diane Finley:

[Yael]

1. Adding a rec for this one too

[JeffR]

2. Thanks, Yael

:hi:

[babylonsister]

3. Thanks again! and rec'd. nt

[JeffR]

5. Thanks!

:)

[mac2]

4. Reminds me of Vietnam protests

When you think about it...it is the same war for Empire with the same thugs. Less people are allowed to speak this time by the media because it involves the Middle East.

The world has the same problem regarding loss of democracy using the war. They used it like Pearl Harbor to go to war and take away our freedoms. It's not just America who battles the Neo Cons and their Empire Building.

[JeffR]

6. Good point

Canada provided refuge for many thousands back in the Sixties and Seventies. I hope they'll do so again.

[democrank]

7. Bless them for their courage.

~PEACE~

[Squatch]

8. Why are they "resisting" in Canada?

[JeffR]

10. Seems pretty straightforward, no?

And lest anyone think these soldiers are cowards, they aren't. Most have served at least one tour in Afghanistan or Iraq. A few are career military. Common among them is a belief that the invasion and occupation of Iraq is a criminal enterprise, and they refuse to obey orders they consider immoral and illegitimate. It's safe to say that their voices stand a better chance of being heard if they aren't tossed in a brig back home.

[mac2]

14. Privitization and globalization

The illegal war in Iraq. They did send military to Afghanistan too.

[SeattleGirl]

9. Thanks, JeffR

Pictures in both Part 1 and Part 2 are great.

Happy to recommend!

[RedSock]

11. what DUers can do to help

Anyone who wants to support the men and women who have decided to follow international law and defy the US's illegal invasion/occupation of Iraq should write a quick letter to Stephane Dion, the leader of the Canada's liberal party, telling him to support the current resolution before Parliament calling for:

- an end to all deportation proceedings against resisters
- a provision so the resisters can apply for legal residence in Canada

The other two minority parties, the NDP and the Bloc, support the resolution. The main reason behind the rally yesterday was to increase the pressure on the liberals to do the right thing. Right now, they are acting like jellyfish, afraid to stick their necks out and go against the conservatives (sound familiar?).

Information on who to write to in Canada can be found here.

[JeffR]

13. Thanks, RedSock!

:)

[Tierra_y_Libertad]

12. Bless 'em. May their numbers grow. K&R