On Jan 11th, George Stroumboulopoulos posted to his CBC blog about Jose Figueroa and the upcoming nation-wide events being held to raise awareness about his deportation case.
Strombo's endorsement is yet another big name added to the list of Jose supporters, which also includes Actor Martin Sheen, as well as several politicians. MPP Mark Warawa urged fellow Conservative Party member Public Safety Minister Vic Toews to consider a "ministerial exemption" for Mr. Figueroa for the sake of his BC born children, one of whom has autism.
The group organizing Jose's campaign also received very big news yesterday when Sigfrido Reyes, Vice-President of the National Assembly in El Salvador, and Fredy Tejada, FMLN member of PARLACEN (Central American Parliament), both asked to be added to the list of Jose supporters. As far as I am aware, this is the first time that FMLN party members have acknowledged Jose's case. The Canadian government could now be faced with the possibility of their decision damaging relations with El Salvador specifically, and put a blight on our country's image across Latin America more generally.
Our Anti-Terrorism Laws ought be enforced by knowledgeable and informed officers against the threat posed by violent terrorist groups which actually threaten Canadian lives and freedoms. Targeting FMLN members such as Jose Figueroa, a group recognized by the United Nations as a legitimate resistance movement and the current democratically elected government of El Salvador, shows that the CBSA has a misguided approach to dealing with terrorism in Canada that is divorced from the reality of the threats to our country.
While I believe that our security establishment has done a superb job thwarting terrorist plots against Canada, and I support nearly any action which would further protect Canadian lives from terrorism, Jose's case falls well outside of the archetypal organization that threatens our country today. As such, Minister of Public Safety Vic Toews ought to pardon Mr. Figueroa as soon as possible so that we can begin to reorient ourselves once again to address the threats to Canada posed by real terrorist groups like Al Qaeda, among others.
Click here to view George Stroumboulopoulos' endorsement.
This is great news for Jose and his family.
ReplyDeleteThank you George for your thoughts and support.
thanks to all and thank you Sasha wood.
Without you Sasha none of this would have happened the way it did.
kristina
I can't take the credit this was an effort of lots of lots o people that's for sure! max cameron, jerry speigel, rev keller, jose's friends and family, all the people in walnut grove and Langley who did the right thing and called and went into their MP's Mark Warawa's office and rose shit to help Jose and his family. Gina from Langley whose idea it was to have a petition that got over 1000 signatures, Rene from Barrio -who without him and Max none of this would have been possible, Barrio Nuevo in Toronto, Max lots for lots - writing articles, having a class, INSPIRING, the students of UBC and SFU for helping and doing lots, Kevin and Sarshar for making an incredible documentary, Peter Edelman and Steven Meurens's Jose's lawyers, Rebecca and Simon, NOII- and Magin especially for all the translations, Margo Donvoan Jose jr's teacher and inspiring advocate for the family. Reverand Keller for everything he does, FMLN members in Canada and El Salvador, Laura Avalos-wow energy!, the organizations across canada that supported jose such as the salvador association and barrio nuevoo, the Walnut Grove Luthern church, the organizer and person who came up with the WE ARE JOSE Campaign idea - Caroline C, the We are Jose videographer Devin G from Langley and all the persons in the video, the Langley Times and all the journalists who kept the story alive, RAICES and Ana Linares for lots, Lalo our great media coordinator, Victoria CASC, Nik, Pawel, Caroline J, Marie Campbell...Jose for having the courage to speak up for his family and the FMLN, whose passion and energy to do the right thing is so inspiring. i couldnt even try to name all the people who worked and are working hard on this i hate to leave someones name out and everybody did so much...so many people that we dont even know many, lots helped pass on emails, help spread the word, email in letter etc, lots and lots of anonymous help. I feel very privileged to be associated with all these amazing people. definately believe all of our -your efforts are making a differenece. www.wearejose.com S
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