Who? Let's start with Kim. Back in the US on leave, Iraq War veteran Kim Rivera decided she could not return to Iraq. In 2007, she explained:
While in Iraq losing soldiers and civilians was part of daily life. I was a gate guard. This was looked down on by infantry soldiers who go out in the streets, but gate guards are the highest security of the Foward Operation Base. We searched vehicles, civilian personnel, and military convoys that left and came back every hour. I had a huge awakening seeing the war as it truly is: people losing their lives for greed of a nation and the effects on the soldiers who come back with new problems such as nightmares, anxieties, depression, anger alcohol abuse, missing limbs and scars from burns. Some don't come back at all. On December 21, 2006 I was going to my room and something in my heart told me to go call my husband. And when I did 24 rounds of mortars hit the FOB in a matter of minutes after I got on the phone . . . the mortars were 10-15 feet from where I was. I found a hole from the shrapnel in my room in the plywood window. That night I found the shrapnel on my bed in the same place where my head would have been if I hadn't changed my plans and gone to the phone.
So she and her family went to Canada where she sought asylum as a war resister.
That's Kim, who's Jason Kenney?
In the image below, Kim's the one with the ponytail, War Resisters Support Campaign's Michelle Robidoux.is the one in glasses and Jason Kenney is the large man trying to get away from the two women.
When not fleeing women he should be helping, Kenney serves as Canada's Minister of Immigration and, despite telling Kim in 2009 that his office had nothing to do with deportations, he is now attempting to deport her, wanting her kicked out of Canada by September 20th.
In the nearly five years Kim and her family have been in Canada, they've tried to make a life. From the mother of two, she's become the mother of four. She's not exactly a safety issue so why the need to deport her?
The War Resisters Support Campaign offers a number of ways in which you can help Kim:
How you can help the Rivera family:
1. Join the Rivera family and supporters on
Monday September 3rd at 10 am
at the Labour Day parade
(north of Armoury, on east side of University Ave)
Let’s show our support for Kim and her family, who sought refuge in Canada in 2007 when Kim decided she could no longer participate in the Iraq War. Kim faces harsh punishment, including a long jail term, if she is returned to the US – all because she followed her conscience.
The War Resisters Support Campaign invites you to march with Kim and her family in the Steelworkers contingent.
Meet on the east side of University Ave, north of Armoury (south of Dundas)
2. Attend an emergency community meeting to support U.S. war resister Kimberly Rivera and her family!
Wednesday, September 5, 7:00 PM
Parkdale United Church, 171 Dunn Avenue, Toronto
3. Write, email, phone or fax Minister of Citizenship, Immigration and Multiculturalism Jason Kenney and ask him to let Iraq War resister Kimberly Rivera and her family stay in Canada:
325 East Block, House of Commons, Ottawa, ON K1A 0A6
Phone: 613-954-1064 Fax: 613-957.2688
Email: jason.kenney@parl.gc.ca, minister@cic.gc.ca
4. Make a donation: funds are urgently needed to support the Riveras and stop the attempt to deport Iraq War resisters:
* Donate online by going here:
http://resisters.chipin.com
* Donate by cheque:
To mail us a donation, please make a cheque payable to the War Resisters Support Campaign and mail it to:
War Resisters Support Campaign
Box 13, 427 Bloor Street West
Toronto, ON M5S 1X7
CANADA