On July 4th, peace and humanitarian organizations celebrated a Canadian federal court decision favoring Iraq war resister Joshua Key that could have substantial implications for other American war objectors.

In a nationwide action July 9th, US protesters drew attention to the imminent deportation from Canada of AWOL GIs. If returned to US soil they face court martial, imprisonment and dishonorable discharges. Across the country 14 events were held in support of US war resisters attempting to remain in Canada while resisting participation in illegal and immoral occupation wars. The actions were organized in less than two weeks in response to a deportation order issued against war resister Corey Glass, an Iraq War veteran who was a sergeant in the Indiana National Guard. In San Franciaso, over 50 military veterans, religious leaders and peace activists rallied in front of the Canadian Consulate.

Activists were pleased with a surprise decision announced just hours after San Francisco's noon hour protest; a Canadian Federal Court granted Corey a last minute reprieve of at least several months while his lawyers are given an opportunity to appeal earlier negative rulings.

Despite a non-binding Parliamentary motion calling on the government to allow war resisters to stay in Canada, and in spite of recent encouraging court decisions in at least one other war resister's case, Prime Minister Stephen Harper and Immigration Minister Diane Finley may act against the wishes of Canadians and soon deport another war resister, Robin Long. If deported, he will be the first of an estimated 200 deserters who have sought refuge in Canada to be returned to the United States. Mr. Long remains in jail as of this writing.

Corey Glass, 25, who was a sergeant in the Indiana National Guard, has been ordered to leave Canada this week or face deportation. "I signed up for the National Guard to ... do humanitarian work, filling sandbags if there was a hurricane. I should have been in New Orleans, not Iraq," he said. If deported as scheduled on July 10 Glass will be the first Iraq War resister to be deported. Other AWOL GIs face the same fate in the near future.

Photos: 1 | 2 | Canada Court Decision Favors US War Resister | Democracy Now: Canadian court rules Immigration and Refugee Board reconsider asylum claim for US war resister

Coverage of January 2008 San Francisco protest at Canadian consulate