For more than one year Palestinian refugees in Montreal and throughout Canada have been struggling against deportation and fighting for their status. On September 18th, the Coalition Against the Deportation of Palestinian Refugees and their supporters are calling for your participation in a large-scale demonstration on the streets of Montreal.

SATURDAY SEPTEMBER 18th, 2004
Gathering Point:
2:00 PM, corner Atwater & Ste-Catherine (Atwater metro)

See also:

• Still waiting -- 216 days later, the Ayoub family is still under church sanctuary (The Link · Concordia)
• No to Deportations: Montrealers Rally in Support of the Ayoub Family

From the Refugee Camps of Lebanon & Palestine to the Streets of Montreal!

For more than one year, Palestinian refugees in Montreal and throughout Canada have been struggling against deportation and fighting for their status. On September 18th, the Coalition Against the Deportation of Palestinian Refugees and their supporters are calling for your participation in a large-scale demonstration on the streets of Montreal.

It is a critical time to show your solidarity with the Palestinian refugees, as many of the deportations are set to take place in the coming weeks and months. In Montreal, Palestinian refugees have already been forced by Immigration Canada to live underground or take sanctuary, such as Khalil Ayoub, 67, Nabih Ayoub, 69, and Therese Boulos Haddad, 62, who have been refugees all their lives, fleeing Palestine in 1948 to the refugee camps of Lebanon, and ultimately to Canada. The Ayoub family, confined to the basement of Notre-Dame de Grace Church, were forced to take sanctuary over 7 months ago to escape deportation.

The September 18th demonstration in Montreal will also commemorate the thousands of Palestinian refugees who lost their lives in the 1982 massacre of Sabra and Chatila, during the Israeli invasion of Beirut. The Palestinian refugees facing deportation are the sons and daughters of the very same refugee camps, which suffered throughout the 15-year long Lebanese civil-war. They are the sons and daughters of Sabra & Chatila, Tel El Zaatar and Bourj El Barajneh, stateless refugees representing a history of displacement, which began in 1948. As we remember the massacre of Sabra & Chatila -- one of the deepest wounds in the Palestinian consciousness -- we will demonstrate in solidarity with the struggle of Palestinians here in Canada!

We will march on the streets of Montreal within the context of a political campaign that has been waged throughout Canada during the past year in support of the Palestinian refugees facing deportation. Thousands of people throughout the country have participated in street demonstrations, and thousands more have pressured Citizenship & Immigration Canada in support of the refugees. Wide sections of society are standing in solidarity with the struggle against Palestinian deportations, including the Arab and Muslim community, self-organized immigrants and refugees, major labour unions, countless community groups, major political parties, faith-based organizations and thousands of individuals from throughout the world. With this strong backing, we intend to intensify the struggle against Palestinian deportations this September.

We must stand united in the struggle against the deportation of Palestinian refugees! Join us on the streets of Montreal on September 18th and throughout the month of September for a popular mobilization against the deportation of Palestinian refugees.

Your support, solidarity and action is needed now!

For more information, or to get involved contact:
The Coalition Against the Deportation of Palestinian Refugees in Montreal
Phone: (514) 591-3171
Email: refugees@riseup.net
Web: http://refugees.resist.ca

* * *

-> Below is the list of supporting organizations for the two demands of
the Coalition Against the Deportation of Palestinian Refugees:

1. To stop the deportations of the Palestinian refugees from Canada,
2. To grant them permanent residency on humanitarian and compassionate grounds.

Aidoun Group, Lebanon
Akka Charitable Association, Lebanon
Al-Awda Egypt, Cairo, Egypt
Al-Awda Club, Lebanon
Al-Awda - the Palestinian Right of Return Coalition, North America
Al-Nadeem Center for the Rehabilitation of the Victims of Violence, Cairo, Egypt
Arab American Association, New York
Arraby Charitable Association, Lebanon
Center for Women Activities, Lebanon
Coalition for the Human Rights of Immigrants (CHRI), New York
Committee for Charitable Works, Lebanon
The Coordination Forum of the NGO's Working Among the Palestinian Community, Lebanon
Deir Yassin Society of New York
Desis Rising Up & Moving (DRUM) New York
Direct Action Palestine, New York
The East Jerusalem YMCA, Palestine
The Egyptian Organization for Human Rights, Egypt
The General Union of Palestinian Women, Lebanon
The General Union of Palestinian Workers, Lebanon
Immigrant Justice Solidarity Project (IJSP), New York
International Solidarity Movement, Berkeley
Islamic Association for Palestine in North America
Jews Against The Occupation, New York
A Jewish Voice for Peace, Oakland
Justice for Palestinians, San Jose
Khalsa Social Association, Lebanon
The March For Justice, International
Multi-Lingual Translators & Interpreters Group, Egypt
New England Committee to Defend Palestine, Boston
New York Committee to Defend Palestine
New Jersey Solidarity - Activists for the Liberation of Palestine
Office of Palestinian Students Aid, Lebanon
The Organization of Palestinian Democratic Women, Lebanon
The Organization of Palestinian Democratic Youth, Lebanon
The Organization of Palestinian Human Rights, Lebanon
Palestinian Women Union, Egypt
Palestinian Students Committee, University of Wollongong, UAE
Palestinian Cultural Club, American University in Dubai, UAE
Reach Organization, Dubai, UAE Roots Association (Judhoor), Lebanon
School of Oriental & African Studies (SOAS) Palestine Society, London, UK
Students for Justice at San Jose State University, San Jose, USA
Tulkarem Club, Lebanon
Union of Palestinian Youth, Gaza, Palestine
Youth & Children Center, Chatila, Lebanon