May 20: Protest for Palestinian Refugees’ Rights

PALESTINIAN REFUGEES HAVE RIGHTS – IN CANADA, the US and EVERYWHERE!

INTERNATIONAL DAY OF ACTION
PROTEST
Thursday, May 20, 2004
4 pm – 6 pm
Canadian Consulate
1251 Ave of the Americas (6th Ave, between 49th and 50th)
New York City

**Read on to find out what you can do if you cannot be in NY to attend the
protest!**

Over 100 Palestinian refugees in Montreal, Canada, currently face deportation –
back to Lebanon or Occupied Palestine, despite severe risks to them and the
utter deprivation of civil rights that awaits them. These stateless refugees
are under attack in Montreal, as Palestinian refugee rights have come under
attack internationally, most recently as President George Bush attempted to
sign away Palestinian refugees’ fundamental right to return home. The refugees
of Montreal have organized themselves into the Coalition Against the
Deportation of Palestinian Refugees, demonstrating, mobilizing, organizing
legal support, and coordinating community action to support refugees’ legal
battle for dignity and justice.

These refugees have called for an INTERNATIONAL DAY OF ACTION to support refugee
rights on May 20, a call that was joined by Al-Awda, the Palestine Right to
Return Coalition at its recent International Convention in NYC!

PROTEST in support of Palestinian Refugees’ Rights, and all Refugees’ Rights!
End the Deportations! No One Is Illegal!

PROTEST
Thursday, May 20, 2004
4 pm – 6 pm
Canadian Consulate
1251 Ave of the Americas (6th Ave, between 49th and 50th)
New York City

Endorsed by: Al-Awda-NY, the Palestine Right to Return Coalition; Coalition
Against the Deportation of Palestinian Refugees – Montreal; International
Action Center; International Socialist Organization; New Jersey
Solidarity-Activists for the Liberation of Palestine; New York Committee to
Defend Palestine; SNAFU; Solidarity for Palestinian Human Rights-McGill

Flyer at: http://www.njsolidarity.org/flyers/m20.pdf

***IF YOU CANNOT ATTEND, SEND A VIRTUAL PROTEST TO THE CANADIAN CONSULATE!

FAX AND PHONE the Canadian Consulate at:
Tel: (212) 596-1628 Fax: (212) 596-1790

Let Citizenship and Immigration Canada know that you support the demands of the
Palestinian refugees in Montreal:
1. To stop the deportations of the Palestinian refugees from Canada,
2. To grant them permanent residency on Humanitarian and Compassionate grounds.

Highlight cases such as the recent victory in the case of Osama Saleh – a
victory that speaks to the power of popular support. After a persistent
political campaign, Osama’s deportation to the West Bank was halted by a
Federal Court Judge. Osama Saleh’s fight to remain in Canada is not over, but
serves as a concrete example of the power that collective action can have in
fighting the deportation of Palestinian refugees.

Also mention the case of Khalil Ayoub, 67, Nabih Ayoub, 69 and Therese Boulos
Haddad, 62, three Palestinian refugees from the refugee camp of Ein El-Helweh
in Lebanon who have taken sanctuary in the Notre-Dame-de-Grace Church since the
30th of January 2004, in order to escape deportation.

The Palestinian refugees of Canada need popular support from across North
America. If you can be in New York, attend this protest! If you cannot be
there, send your message to the Consulate, and let them know that across North
America, people are committed to dignity and justice for Palestinian refugees!!

Please forward widely!!