7:00pm-9:00pm Panel and Discussion
Followed by DJs and Social (9pm-11pm)
DJ DJ Tanner + DJ Essex
5-10$ sliding scale, no one turned away
Beit Zatoun, 612 Markham Street
(Proceeds to support Undoing Border Tour and cover costs)
We didn't cross the borders, the borders crossed us!
The bodies of Indigenous people, queer people, migrants, people of colour and the poor have been exploited, governed, labelled and regulated by the Canadian and US states. The state has tried to interfere in our communities, our languages, our families, our love relationships and our ability to seek refuge. But we have seen that if we resist, we can win! No One Is Illegal-Toronto, along with our friends at Queers Against Israeli Apartheid call on queers, trans folks, two-spirted people, people of colour, migrants, workers, students, radicals, and allies to join us for an evening of discussion, reflection and celebration.
Citizenship and Immigration Minister Jason Kenney has reintroduced Bill C-4 (formerly Bill C-49), the so-called Preventing Human Smuggling Bill. Under this Bill, any group of migrants can be designated 'a smuggling incident'. Once they have been designated as such, migrants can be jailed for up to 12 months; are denied the ability apply for permanent resident status for five years after they have been granted refugee status; cannot apply on humanitarian and compassionate grounds, for a temporary resident permits or refugee travel documents for five years or longer; are banned from appealing an unfavorable decision and cannot sponsor their families five years. Bill C-4 also gives immigration officers powers to arrest and detain any foreign national or permanent resident on suspicions of criminal activity without proof.
On June 20, 2011, World Refugee Day, migrant justice activists from No One Is Illegal - Toronto hung a 40 feet by 10 feet banner off a major highway in downtown Toronto reading "Canada Jails Refugees".
(1) Contact your MP and demand that this bill be scrapped. Find your MP: http://bit.ly/mfMkVq
(2) Take a minute to write letters to the editor, comment on online news stories & post on social media! Reinforce your support for migrants, demand that Bill C4 be scrapped. All letters must be short (100 words), include name, mailing address and daytime phone number of the writer; state “Letter to the Editor” in subject; and content should be in the body of the email. Globe and Mail: letters@globeandmail.com; Toronto Star: lettertoed@thestar.ca; National Post: letters@nationalpost.com; 24 Hours: news@sunmedia.ca; Now Toronto: letters@nowtoronto.com; Metro News: http://www.metronews.ca/toronto/contactus
(3) Let Jason Kenney know what you think about his racist anti-migrant bill. Call him 403-225-3480 or 613-992-2235; Email kennej@parl.gc.ca; Twitter @kenneyjason
“Thank you. To all the people that signed petitions, that came out to rallies, all the organizations that have supported me, Thank you from the bottom of my heart. The detention centre is still full, with kids and families. It's not fair. It's not fair that police are working with immigration to arrest people. We need change now. I hope that people in the community will continue to fight for justice for immigrants and refugees.” Alvaro Orozco, May 31, 2011
No One Is Illegal - Toronto joins Toronto’s queer and arts community in celebrating the upcoming release of Alvaro Orozco from immigration detention. Alvaro has been in detention since Friday, May 13th, after being racially profiled and arrested by Toronto Police outside Ossington station. Alvaro Orozco’s Humanitarian & Compassionate application for immigration status was approved late Tuesday afternoon and he will be released back to his community on Wednesday.
Community power, grassroots organizing from St.John's to Victoria, and Alvaro’s inspiring resilience in the face of immigration-detention created this people’s victory. Even though most mainstream media outlets refused to cover Alvaro’s story, we were able to organize immense public pressure in the last two weeks. Undaunted by the continuous attacks of the Harper government, and their neo-con agenda, we assert again today that when we fight together, we win.
GLOBAL BOYCOTT, DIVESTMENT, SANCTIONS DAY OF ACTION
12:30 pm
TORONTO
MEET AT KING AND BAY
Our universities and pension plans are invested in corporations that carry out apartheid, environmental degradation, and the displacement of indigenous people worldwide. On the anniversary of Palestinian Land Day and the BDS Global Day of Action, we march in the financial district to say:
END CANADIAN SUPPORT FOR APARTHEID: DIVEST NOW!
We salute people's uprisings in the Middle East and the struggle for freedom, justice, and equality everywhere.
Bring noisemakers and flags!
Organized by the Coalition Against Israeli Apartheid. www.caiaweb.org
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A Short History of Land Day and the BDS Day of Action
March on the McGuinty Government
RAISE WELFARE AND DISABILITY RATES, RESTORE THE SPECIAL DIET!
Friday April 1st
Assemble at Nathan Phillips Square, Toronto
12 Noon
It has been 16 long years since Mike Harris cut welfare and froze disability. McGuinty's Liberals have been in power for half that time and done nothing to deal with poverty. In fact people are worse off today. It would take a 55% increase to bring benefits to pre-Harris levels. If benefit levels were restored to the same level of spending power as they had in 1994, a single person on Ontario Works would now be receiving $904 a month instead of the miserable $593 now being issued.
25 March 2011
6pm – 8pm (includes food)
St Lukes United Church, 353 Sherbourne Ave
[El español sigue]
NYC's Movement for Justice in El Barrio: El Barrio is Not for Sale, It is to be Loved & Defended
24-26 March 2011, Toronto
Come hear Juan Haro and Maria Mercado from Movimiento por Justicia del Barrio, or Movement for Justice in El Barrio, in East Harlem, NYC, as they share stories of their struggle, build connections, and raise funds. Movement for Justice in El Barrio is an organization composed mainly of immigrant tenants in El Barrio, New York City that fights for human dignity and against community displacement. They fight for the liberation of every marginalized group, including immigrants, people of color, women, gays, lesbians, transgender communities, and all the poor of the world. Movement for Justice in the Barrio is part of The Other Campaign, initiated by the Zapatista Army of National Liberation.
Movimiento’s members, at over 600 strong, have never taken on a battle they have not won. In addition to taking on and defeating greedy landlords and multi-national corporations, they also target the city institutions and politicians who facilitate gentrification and displacement. Of the many organizing tactics and strategies members utilize to build solidarity with other organizations and advance their struggle, include Zapatista-inspired community consultations (consultas) and gatherings (Encuentros).
