More Photos of Banner Drop: http://www.flickr.com/photos/nooneisillegal/

Friday July 22, 2010, Vancouver, Coast Salish Territories– The refugee rights and migrant justice organization No One Is Illegal dropped a large banner which read:  “The People versus Jason Kenney” above Highway 1 in Vancouver/Burnaby this morning during rush-hour traffic. The banner drop came in the lead-up to a nation-wide day of protest against Minister of Citizenship, Immigration and Multiculturalism Jason Kenney on Saturday July 24.  In the Lower Mainland, a people’s march against Jason Kenney will be taking place at Central Park in Burnaby at 2 pm on Sat July 24, with actions also taking place in Montreal, Halifax, Toronto, and Winnipeg.

According to Alex Mah of No One Is Illegal, “There is a growing grassroots movement out of schools, neighbourhoods, and workplaces to reject Minister Kenney’s oppressive, violent, and racist policies.”

The growing difficulty immigrants and refugees are facing is evident through a series of fundamental shifts under Kenney. According to Citizenship and Immigration Canada’s 2009 annual report the number of refugees who had their asylum claims approved dropped by 56% over the past four years since the Conservatives have been in power. The 2009 report also revealed a decreasing “target” of 11,000 people in the number of accepted asylum seekers and sponsored family members. Most recently, Kenney’s new refugee bill has created a racist two tier system based on nationality. “Kenney has enforced deportations at gun point and drastically expanded slave-like temporary worker programs. Deportation is a daily business in Canada and a daily experience for refugees, non status people, and migrant workers,” states Proma Tagore, member of No One Is Illegal.

Over the past year, Kenney appointed a known anti-gay activist to the Immigration and Refugee Board,  called war resisters ‘bogus’ refugees, barred British MP George Galloway from Canada because of his opposition to the occupation of Afghanistan, instituted visa requirements for Czechs and Mexicans, oversaw unprecedented immigration raids in workplaces and women shelters in Ontario, defended Quebec Bill C 94 that discriminates against women who wear the niqab, and deliberately removed references to LGBT rights from the citizenship guide. 

Under his regime, an Eritrean refugee committed suicide from fear of a pending deportation, and a young woman was murdered upon her deportation to Mexico. “This whole system is a facade. It is corrupt, biased, inhumane, and arbitrary. While people are dying, Kenney is concerned about his bid to become Canada’s next prime minister. Kenney is responsible for crimes against people and should be challenged and confronted by people across the country” states Brian Peaslee of No One Is Illegal.

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Media: Tracey Mann 778 833 4484 Magin Payet 778 862 8895.

Kenney “Wanted” poster image: http://bit.ly/alj2C9.

List of 70 organizations supporting the march: https://noii-van.resist.ca/?p=2025