http://www.afterdowningstreet.org/node/33963Canadian Immigration Blinks on Use of FBI data base for entry into Canada of US Peace Activists
Submitted by davidswanson on Mon, 2008-06-09 18:09.
By Ann Wright, retired US Army Reserve Colonel and former US diplomat
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The border crossing by two groups of high profile anti-war activists with arrest records in a two day period, both dealing with the issue of US war resisters in Canada, may indicate a change in the position of the Canadian immigration service on misdemeanor arrests for political protest in the United States.
We hope so, as we pose no threat to Canadian security and indeed our actions in the United States for which we were arrested seem to reflect the views of most Canadians that the war in Iraq should end and that US war resisters should be able to stay in their country.
The Ottawa-based International Civil Liberties Monitoring Group (CLMG) has set up an action-research clearinghouse on border controls and watch lists to investigate and document cases related to the creation of no-fly lists and other watch lists that impact on civil liberties, right to privacy and mobility rights for all travelers, including peace activists.
CLMG would like to hear from anyone who has had trouble entering Canada because of arrests for political protests in the United States. Their website, www.travelwatchlist.ca will be active on June 18, 2008 and will have a toll-free number.
Please contact CLMG if you have had travel problems into Canada based on political activism.