Media Advisory: Emergency Community Meeting in Parkdale to Stop the Deportation of Iraq War Resister Kimberly Rivera

TORONTO, ONTARIO--(Marketwire - Sept. 5, 2012) - On Wednesday, September 5, members of the Parkdale Community will be gathering at an emergency community meeting to support Iraq War resister Kimberly Rivera who, along with her husband and four children, has been ordered to leave Canada by September 20 (www.thestar.com/news/gta/article/1249942--iraq-war-resister-speaks-out-after-deportation-order).

Cheri Di Novo, Member of Provincial Parliament (Parkdale-High Park) and Gord Perks, City Councillor (Ward 14 Parkdale-High Park) are expected to attend.

Despite the widespread support of the Canadian people for US war resisters, and two motions adopted by Parliament calling on the government to let war resisters like Kim become permanent residents of Canada, the Harper government continues to target Iraq War resisters for deportation.

Kim and her family, including two children born in Canada, have been ordered to leave the country by September 20 or be deported. In the US, Kim faces court martial, jail time, and a felony conviction that will follow her for life-all as punishment for being a conscientious objector.

Members of the Parkdale community in south-west Toronto will call on Immigration Minister Jason Kenney to stop the deportation and to give Kim, and other war resisters, access to the unbiased decision making process that was available to Conrad Black. Minister Kenney has both the power and ability to intervene to let the Riveras stay in Canada by granting the family's request for permanent resident status on humanitarian and compassionate (H&C) grounds (www.cic.gc.ca/english/refugees/inside/h-and-c.asp).