18-25 June 2005: March on Ottawa! No one is illegal!

The four basic demands of the Solidarity Across Borders network are:

• the regularization of all non-status people in Canada;
• an end to deportations;
• an end to detentions;
• and the abolition of security certificates.

Lack of status, deportations, detentions, and security certificates all contribute to making migrants vulnerable to exploitation, poverty, insecurity and indignities that no one should suffer. In the current political context, as Canada rushes to harmonize its border policies with the United States and create a unified "Fortress North America" in the context of the so-called "war on terror", the situation of immigrants and refugees is worsening.

Every day, thousands of migrants and their families struggle against the uncertainties created by the racist and anti-poor processes of criminalization carried out by Immigration Canada. They are forced underground; threatened with detention or with deportation to often desperate situations; and subjected to discriminatory legal standards which fall far short even of international human rights standards. The migrants leading the march are simply demanding their basic rights to a secure life, dignity and a future.

The one-week walk to Ottawa will take place from June 18th to 25th, 2005. We will begin the march in downtown Montreal, proceed through some of Montreal"s immigrant and working class neighbourhoods and out to the West Island. By day two, we expect to be marching out of the island, and onto the highway that will take us to Ottawa. We are contacting Mohawk and Algonquin peoples whose lands we will be passing through to acknowledge them as the first peoples of the land and to express solidarity with their struggles for self-determination. During the march, we will be stopping to speak to people in communities and towns along the route.

The march is an enormous undertaking, reflecting the seriousness of the current situation of migrants. It recalls earlier marches to demand basic rights and dignity for workers and for women. The preparation is intense: outreach across the country, along the march route and within Montreal; logistical support for a week-long march; physical training; childcare for the march; gathering material supplies; setting up events along the way, and more.

Strong public support is crucial for the success of this historic march and we are calling on you to help give that support.

Your support could include:

-> participating in the walk;
-> organizing solidarity actions in your city the week before or during the march (delegation to government office, picket, march, public speaking event, etc.);
-> endorsing the march (organisational endorsements; send to email address below);
-> inviting us to give a presentation on our campaign and the march at your school, community centre, organisation, religious centre, etc. (if you are in Montreal);
-> donating (both financial and in-kind donations or loans (food, vehicles, shoes, cell phones, bicycle carts, etc.) are greatly needed - please contact us for more details);
-> including an article about the march in your publications, newsletters, websites, on your radio shows, etc.;
-> sending us letters, audio recordings or videos of support (we will use these in our public outreach work as well as during the march, to encourage marchers);
-> sending us personal accounts of your struggle as a refugee or migrant (again, these will be used in public outreach and during the march);
-> writing a letter to your MP to express support for the march and encourage your MP to offer tangible support for the march and our demands;
-> passing on this message through your networks and encouraging further support; and
-> participating in the organizing effort (if you are in Montreal).

Please don"t hesitate to contact us for more details on any of the above or other ways of getting involved. In addition, we are contacting groups along the route and in Ottawa for the specific forms of support we need from those communities. If you are in Ottawa or one of the communities on the road to Ottawa, please contact us to find out how you can help or participate.

We thank you for taking the time to read through this appeal and respond. We look forward to being in touch with you and we have no doubt that, with your support, our common struggle will succeed.

Solidarity Across Borders

e-mail: sansfrontieres (at) resist.ca
web: www.solidarityacrossborders.org