Why we are marching!

 

WHY WE ARE MARCHING ...

We are marching to demonstrate against the deportation and detention of migrants and refugees, and for a comprehensive, inclusive regularization program, meaning STATUS FOR ALL.

We are marching from downtown Montreal, through Chinatown, the Main, Mile-End, Little Italy and Parc Extension, ending at Kent Park in Côte-des-Neiges. We march as part of a national day of protest for immigrant rights, joining demonstrations in Vancouver, Toronto, Ottawa and elsewhere. We march almost one-year after we walked for one week from Montreal to Ottawa to demand justice and dignity for all migrants and refugees.

Building on ongoing organizing efforts led by migrant communities, we are demonstrating because hundreds of thousands of people live without status, while hundreds of thousands more are exploited by the arbitrary and racist policies of Immigration Canada.

Police and deportation agents continue to enter our homes, schools and workplaces, creating fear in our communities, while detaining and removing our neighbors, colleagues, friends and families. Instead of the fear and paranoia promoted by the government, we organize to support each other, in the spirit of solidarity and mutual aid.

For us, there is no such thing as "illegal" human beings, only unjust laws and illegitimate governments.

We march today for all our friends and allies who have been removed, detained, forced underground, forced into sanctuary or victimized by security certificates: Kader Belaouni - in sanctuary in the St-Gabriel's Church in Point-St-Charles since January - and the seven other sanctuary cases across Canada; Mohamed Cherfi, the Akhtar-Khan family, the Rodriguez family, Khursheda Khanam, Amir Hodhod, the Arrellano-Diaz family, Dorothy Dubé, Fatima Marhfoul, Ahmed Nafaa, Ahmed Abdel Majeed, Ali Naqvi, the Ibad family, the Butt family, the Syed family, Eduardo Perez, Gorka Salazar, Mourad and Nadia, the Vega family, the Borja family, the Ayoub family, the Ayele family, Mohammad
Mahjoub, Mahmoud Jaballah, Hassan Almrei, Mohamed Harkat, Adil Charkaoui and many, too many, more.

We also march inspired by those who have successfully resisted deportations and remain in Canada. We march for all who continue to fight against detentions, deportations and security certificates.

We are demonstrating as part of a struggle for self-determination as migrants and refugees, supported by our allies.

We refuse to be invisible; we refuse to live in fear. We demand STATUS FOR ALL! Join us, as we organize to win.

For more information, or to get involved:

Solidarity Across Borders
www.solidarityacrossborders.org
514-859-9023 - sansfrontieres resist.ca