National Days of Action in support of Laibar Singh :: Journées nationales d'action en soutien à Laibar Singh
[PHOTOS BELOW ...PHOTOS CI-DESSOUS]
Laibar Singh is a paralyzed refugee claimant facing deportation to India. He is currently in sanctuary inside the Guru Nanak Gurudwara (Sikh temple) in Surrey, British Columbia.
Laibar Singh est un demandeur du statut de réfugié paralysé qui est menacé de déportation vers l'Inde. Il prend actuellement refuge dans le temple Sikh Guru Nanak Gurudwara à Surrey, en Colombie-Britannique.
Between January 25-29, 2008, eleven cities and towns across Canada participated in support actions, delegations and awareness-raising events in solidarity with Laibar Singh. Activities were held in Halifax, Fredericton, Quebec City, Montreal, Ottawa, Kingston, Peterborough, Toronto, Guelph, London and Vancouver/Surrey.
Du 25 au 29 janvier 2008, des actions en soutien à Laibar Singh, des délégations et des événements de sensibilisation ont été organisées dans 11 villes canadiennes. Des activités ont eu lieu à Halifax, Fredericton, Québec, Montréal, Ottawa, Kingston, Peterborough, Toronto, Guelph, London et Vancouver/Surrey.
Together, from Halifax to Vancouver, Laibar’s supporters were demanding that the Canadian Border Services Agency (CBSA) and Minister Stockwell Day respect Laibar Singh’s sanctuary, and that Laibar be granted permanent residency.
De Vancouver à Halifax, les partisan-e-s de Singh ont exigé que l'Agence des services frontaliers du Canada (ASFC) et le ministre Stockwell Day respectent l'asile dans lequel se trouve Laibar Singh et lui accordent la résidence permanente.
Across the Canadian state, protesters were showing their solidarity with the inspiring mobilizations, led by the South Asian community, in support of Laibar. The national actions also aimed to counter the racist backlash against Laibar Singh and the South Asian community, due to deliberate misinformation by the CBSA and some media outlets.
Partout au pays, des manifestant-e-s se sont uni-e-s en solidarité avec les mobilisations en appui à Laibar Singh menées récemment par la communauté sud-asiatique. Les actions nationales avaient également pour objectif de s'opposer au racisme dont sont victimes Laibar Singh et la communauté sud-asiatique - une vague de racisme principalement alimentée par la propagande de l'ASFC et certains médias.
-> OPEN LETTER: Montreal supports Laibar Singh!
-> LETTER OUVERTE: Montreal appuient Laibar Singh
-> A compilation of news articles relating to Laibar Singh is linked HERE
-> For background and up-to-date information about Laibar Singh, visit:
Communities for Laibar Singh
No One Is Illegal-Vancouver
-- JBS.
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Date: 02/03/2008
Size: 25 items
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VANCOUVER/SURREY
A photo of the gate outside the Guru Nanak Sikh Temple in Surrey, BC, where Laibar Singh is in sanctuary, in defiance of a deportation order.
Date: 02/03/2008
Views: 141
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On January 27, 2008, a support vigil was held at the temple, part of National Days of Action in support of Laibar.
Date: 02/03/2008
Views: 160
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A press scrum and speak-out is also held, as Laibar is surrounded by his supporters.
Date: 02/03/2008
Views: 112
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On December 10, 2007, thousands gathered at the Vancouver Airport to protest against Laibar's scheduled deportation. The mobilization effectively stopped the removal.
Date: 02/03/2008
Views: 124
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Again, in the early morning of January 9, 2008, the Canadian Border Services Agency tried to enter Laibar's sanctuary; but hundreds mobilized to protect the gates.
Date: 02/03/2008
Views: 101
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HALIFAX
At the other end of the country, on January 29, 2008, the Halifax Coalition Against Poverty (HCAP) organized a delegation to the offices of Immigration Canada to deliver a letter in support of Laibar.
Date: 02/03/2008
Views: 103
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Across the country, demonstrators were demanding that Laibar Singh's sanctuary be respected, and that he be granted permanent residency.
Date: 02/01/2008
Views: 170
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FREDERICTON
A banner in support of Laibar Singh, which was unveiled outside the offices of a local politician, part of a protest by members of the Fredericton Peace Coalition.
Date: 02/03/2008
Views: 147
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QUEBEC CITY
Members of the newly-formed No One Is Illegal-Quebec City unfurled a banner outside Immigration Canada offices; it translates: "No borders, no prisons, stop the deportations!"
Date: 01/29/2008
Views: 165
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The Quebec City delegation is prevented from entering the offices, so they tape their support letter to the door.
Date: 01/29/2008
Views: 155
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MONTREAL
In Montreal, members of Solidarity Across Borders, No One Is Illegal and other groups gather at the main offices of the Canadian Borders Services Agency.
Date: 01/29/2008
Views: 164
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A group photo of some members of the delegation that gathered in support of Laibar, with a banner for the occasion.
Date: 01/29/2008
Views: 235
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The main doors are locked to one member of the delegation; since 2003, after a wave of organizing by non-status Algerians in Montreal, only individuals with appointments can access the building.
Date: 01/29/2008
Views: 185
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Gurbinder (l) and Indu, two members of the delegation. They are both active organizing with non-status Punjabi migrants in the Montreal-area.
Date: 01/29/2008
Views: 156
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OTTAWA
In Ottawa, a delegation delivered a support letter to the main offices of Immigration Canada; meanwhile, another group of supporters unveiled a banner off of Colonel By, near the Rideau Canal, during afternoon rush hour.
Date: 01/21/2008
Views: 141
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PETERBOROUGH
In Peterborough, Ontario, Beats4Justice raised awareness about Laibar's case, and related issues, with a local show.
Date: 01/26/2007
Views: 141
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The Peterborough Coalition Against Poverty (PCAP) also wrote a support letter.
Date: 01/26/2007
Views: 109
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KINGSTON, GUELPH, LONDON
Activities and actions in support of Laibar were also organized elsewhere in Ontario: in Kingston, Guelph and London.
Date: 01/26/2007
Views: 145
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TORONTO
In Toronto, No One Is Illegal, the Sikh Activist Network, the Disability Action Network and many others gathered at the Greater Toronto Enforcement Center.
Date: 02/02/2004
Views: 181
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More than 150 demonstrators gathered in support of Laibar, and also Kader Belaouni, who has been in sanctuary inside a Montreal-area church for over two years.
Date: 02/02/2004
Views: 214
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The Greater Toronto Enforcement Center -- responsible for all deportations in the metro Toronto area (thousands per year) -- locked its doors to protesters.
Date: 02/02/2004
Views: 174
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Nonetheless, demonstrators held a loud and spirited demo, demanding that the sanctuaries of both Laibar and Kader be respected, and that they be given permanent residency immediately.
Date: 02/02/2004
Views: 179
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Back in Surrey, British Columbia, where Laibar maintains strong support from the local community.
Date: 02/03/2008
Views: 167
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Laibar remains in sanctuary, in defiance of a deportation order, with the ongoing threat of removal by the Canadian Border Services Agency.
Date: 02/03/2008
Views: 130
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For more information, visit: Communities for Laibar Singh. No borders, no nations, stop the deportations!
Date: 01/29/2008
Views: 212
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