Col. Ann Wright: BANNED FROM CANADA FOR WAR PROTEST (on FBI list)

[babylonsister]

http://www.afterdowningstreet.org/?q=node/28201

BANNED FROM CANADA FOR WAR PROTEST
Submitted by davidswanson on Tue, 2007-10-30 14:02. Nonviolent Resistance

By Ann Wright, retired US Army Colonel and former US diplomat

snip//

I presented to immigration officials our letter of invitation from the Parliamentarians that explained that Medea and I had been denied entry to Canada at the Niagara Falls border crossing on October 3, 2007 because we had been convicted in the United States of peaceful, non-violent protests against the war on Iraq, including sitting on the sidewalk in front of the White House with 400 others, speaking out against torture during Congressional hearings, and other misdemeanors. The Canadian government knew of these offenses as they now have access to the FBI’s National Crime Information database on which we are listed. The database that was created to identify members of violent gangs and terrorist organizations, foreign fugitives, patrol violators and sex offenders—not for peace activists peacefully protesting illegal actions of their government.

The immigration officer directed me to secondary screening where my request to call the members of Parliament waiting outside the customs doors was denied. My suggestion that the letter of invitation from the Parliamentarians might be valuable in accessing the need for me to be in Canada was dismissed with the comment that members of Parliament do not have a role in determining who enters Canada. I suggested that the laws enacted by the Parliament were the basis of that determination. I added that the reason I had been invited to Ottawa by Parliamentarian was to be an example of how current laws may exclude those whom Canadians may wish to allow to enter. I also mentioned that Parliament might decide to change the laws that immigration officials implement. I also suggested that since the Parliament provides the budget to the Immigration Services, they might notify the Parliamentarians awaiting my arrival that I had been detained. The officers declined to do so citing my privacy, which I immediately waived. The Parliamentarians were never notified by Immigration that I had arrived and was being detained. Only when my cell phone was returned to me by Immigration officers four hours later was I able to make contact with the Parliamentarians.

snip//

We all want our countries to be safe from criminal actions. However, the unnecessary curtailment of civil liberties and purposeful targeting of those who disagree with government policies must end.

I call on the US Congress to conduct hearings to determine who ordered the FBI to place peaceful, non-violence protest convictions on the international data base and for what purpose.

It feels to me like purposeful intimidation to stop dissent—but I can guarantee you, it won’t work!

To all those concerned about free speech, freedom to travel, ending an illegal war, stopping torture and other violations of domestic and international law, come to Washington and help us!!!

(For more extensive information on security agreements that unnecessarily jeopardize our civil liberties, please see “Americanizing the Restriction of Canadians’ Rights—Security Overtaking Trade as a Driver of ‘Deep Integration’,” by Maureen Webb, Canadian centre for Policy Alternatives (www.policyalternatives.ca/MonitorIssues/2006/04/)

[bluerum]

1. It is simple - you protest the war - we fork you over.

Free speech? As long as it is approved party propaganda - feel free.

Civil liberties? As long as you agree with everything we do and don't make any noise - enjoy your trip to the shopping mall.

Privacy? What do you mean?

[cali]

2. It's totally unfair, but it applies to ANY American with a

a record, and yes that includes misdemeanors. Living on the border, I have quite a few friends who have misdemeanor convictions who have been turned back. They certainly should make an exception for Wright, but it's not quite as presented.

[babylonsister]

7. So you don't think she was singled out? And this makes the second or third time? nt

[cali]

8. I suspect she WAS singled out, but it's awfully hard to say

that definitively. As I said, I know quite a few people who can't cross the border due to misdemeanors- and one of them was arrested at a protest and that's all he has on his record. So again, this is nothing new. The reason I think she's being singled out is because she has some high powered support in the Parliament, and even that isn't getting her in.

[babylonsister]

9. Sigh. I hate my government, really. This seems so un-American. nt

[143tbone]

3. Ann is being singled out even among other dissenters

as I have friends who have been arrested for pretty much the
same things and they have gotten into Canada recently.
I suppose the Freedom of Information Act does not include
seeing if one's name is on the list?????

[nashville_brook]

4. ugh. k and r.

[melm00se]

5. it's their country

they can set whatever bar or barrier that they see fit within the bounds of any existing treaties.

[babylonsister]

6. That's not the issue; she's a peace activist, not a terrorist. nt

[Spazito]

10. It might be their (our) right to set "barriers" but that doesn't mean

they cannot be criticized for being arbitrary and punitive. There is NO doubt in my mind the actions taken by Canada customs is deliberately targeting Ann and others BECAUSE of their stance against the bush government/Iraq war as opposed to those who have been refused entry due to previous convictions.

"McDonough says that such policy is hardly uniformly applied. Wright was allowed into Canada without hassle as recently as April 2006 despite her non-violent criminal record.

She was also allowed to attend the North American leaders summit in Montebello, Que., in August but had to pay a $200 one-time temporary permit, she said."

http://www.thestar.com/News/Canada/article/270460

[cascadiance]

12. Now if she was "such a threat", then why could she "pay her way in"?

That IS NOT concern about security, but stifling dissent, especially amongst those that don't have the option to pay to override that.

[Spazito]

15. Exactly, it is a political decision NOT a security decision n/t

[Pachamama]

18. Hey Spazito! We recently did buy property in Canada and seeing this news actually makes me question

whether or not I should risk going to protests in the future out of the risk that I could be arrested, get a record and then not be admitted to Canada when traveling there! That's effed up that these kind of thoughts even come across my mind...having to choose between freedom of speech and speaking out against an illegal war or staying "safe" so I can cross the border when I need to....

And who says fascism hasn't made it here?

Sigh....

:hi: How goes it my Canadian DUer?

[Spazito]

20. Hey Pachamama! Long time no "talk" to you!

Things are going well here in my little corner of Canada, no snow yet, gloriously crisp, sunny days!

Re the border travesty, I find it almost inconceivable that I would ever have to say I have NO confidence in the government of the day (Canadian) that one's rights will be safeguarded given what has happened to Ann and others.

These are certainly crazy times on BOTH sides of the border, eh!

I only hope this current repub-wannabe government will soon fall and then be defeated in the subsequent election.

[arikara]

13. Speaking as a Canadian...

...they have no mandate from the people to be acting like this. Our government has been taken over by a pack of fascist neocon bush-lovers and our opposition is as useless and complicit as your democrats.

[cascadiance]

11. Wake up Amerika! SMELL THE FASCISM!!! n/t

[cali]

14. This has been going on for as long as I've lived on the

border- and that's 25 years. Got a misdemeanor? Chances are you won't be able to cross the border. That said, they should have made an exception for Wright. She was traveling to Canada as a guest of MPs.

[Lisa]

17. if they let Bush and Cheney in, they should let her in

I'm Canadian, and I think that someone who has been invited by MPs should have some form of diplomatic pass.

[cali]

19. Isn't that just what I said? n/t

[Lisa]

21. I'm totally backing you up! (n/t)

[Joanne98]

16. I was denied entrance into Canada once! I was trying to drive to Alaska.

Where my boyfriend and I owned property. We were turned away for being "undesirable citizens".. My boyfriend had a tattoo of a marijuana leaf on his arm. It took us three days of fighting with them to get thru. There was a big picture of the Queen on the wall. I was so pissed I was insulting her which was a lot of fun! The Canadian border authorities are assholes. They can deny you not being "proper".