A Conversation with U.S. War Resisters in Toronto

Last night I attended an event with the War Resisters Support Campaign here in Toronto moderated by Andy Barrie, himself a Vietnam veteran and resister who came to Canada in the 60s. Ten men and one woman from all over the United States, many of them spouses and parents, spoke about their experiences in the military and as conscientious objectors. Many did tours in Iraq and all of them are officially AWOL for resisting participation in the war.

The legacy of the resister in the United States is fraught with accusations of "draft dodger" and "traitor" but it becomes glaringly obvious when talking to these resisters that their decisions to refuse military service come at great personal cost. Chuck Wiley, who worked on an aircraft carrier before going AWOL, is giving up opportunities for high-paying work back in the States. The kind of mechanical work he is trained for requires security clearance from the military for him to be hired, otherwise his skills are completely unmarketable. Some resisters face rejection from their own families for their decision, all are faced with an uncertain future.

To stay in Canada legally, the resisters need to be granted refugee status by the Canadian government and could otherwise face deportation and jail time in the States. Corey Glass had just received his deportation date that day, and now has about three weeks left before he could face prison time or Iraq. After that, Glass' prospects are few. A bad conduct discharge from the military is the equivalent of a civilian felony. Yet the resisters prefer this uncertain fate to being tools of an illegal and unethical military occupation. Said Jeremy Hinzman "we didn't join to kill innocent people."

But hope is not lost, MP Olivia Chow was in attendance and preparing a motion to allow the resisters to remain in Canada. Time is of the essence, especially for Corey Glass. More information on helping the resisters can be found here.

I was really struck by the hard work these men and this woman were going through to get by here and stay in the country. They live here now, work here, pay taxes to Canada. Many said they would stay in Canada indefinitely if not permanently if granted permission. They're living here and contributing to Canadian society like new Canadians. Were it not for the political implications of their immigration, they would just be settled here normally.