Windsor – Prominent US activist and former army colonel Ann Wright, denied entry to Canada three times, successfully crossed the Windsor-Detroit border today on her way to Toronto to speak at a public event called ‘Resistance Across Borders’. Wright has been a vocal opponent of the US invasions and occupations of Afghanistan and Iraq.
She quit the US army over the Iraq War in 2003 and was subsequently put on an FBI watch list reserved for dangerous criminals. Canadian border officials have stopped Wright from entering Canada three times based on her inclusion on this list despite no other country ever doing the same.
Wright was invited to Canada again by Code Pink, the Council of Canadians, Science for Peace, the War Resisters Support Campaign, Voice of Women, the Toronto Coalition to Stop the War and Rabble.ca to speak against war and the criminalization of dissent. Other speakers at ‘Resistance Across Borders’ include Stuart Trew of the Council of Canadians, U.S. war resister Patrick Hart and Farrah Miranda of No One Is Illegal.
WHEN: Thursday, March 2, 7 p.m.
WHERE: University of Toronto, International Student Centre (33 St. George Street), Cumberland Room (#102)
QUOTES FROM ORGANIZERS
“Ann is a hero, an incredible individual who has fought for peace and justice for the past eight years and more,” said Andrea Peloso with Code Pink. “We were worried that she wouldn’t get into the country because she has been banned several times before. Unfortunately, for many peace activists, journalists and even foreign politicians, the border remains a weapon used by the Harper government to stifle democratic debate.”
“Ann has been a powerful voice against war and militarization not just in the United States but in Canada and across North America,” said Stuart Trew with the Council of Canadians. “She’s witnessed firsthand how the world’s longest defended border – the Canada-US border – has been used to harass and detain people based on their political views, nationality and religion.”
FOR MORE INFORMATION AND INTERVIEWS:
Andrea Peloso at torontocodepink@yahoo.ca; Stuart Trew at strew@canadians.org.
