Nov. 14, 2001

Lisa Fithian, the American anti-globalism activist jailed by Canadian Immigration in Ottawa since Monday, was released today.

"Immigration just decided to release her with no conditions", stated Starhawk who along with Fifthian, were stopped by Canadian Immigration Sunday when they flew into Ottawa's airport to participate in the anti-World Bank and International Monetary Fund activities planned for this week. Fithian was told to leave Canada or she would be arrested. She refused to leave. "It's like she is vindicated", claimed Starhawk. We had a press conference with Minister of Parliament (NDP) Svend Robinson today, welcoming us to Canada."

The two activists in the anti-globalization movement are well know in Quebec, having participated in trainings for the FTAA protests. Starhawk's computer was seized, had it's files inspected, and was released to her the next day. Fithian, a labour militant had previously been employed by the Service Employee International Union (SEIU) organizing janitors and other low-wage workers in Washington, DC and Los Angeles. She and Starhawk plan to continue training activists in non-violent direct action. Tonight, Starhawk is presenting a magical-activism workshop.

The World Bank and IMF meeting were originally scheduled for Washington September 14th, but were cancelled for security reasons. Ottawa then offered to hold them, and the G-20 meetings that were also scheduled then cancelled in India. The G-20 represents most of the 20 largest capitalist economies. Both meetings over the last year have met with significant grassroots opposition and protests by the anti-corporate globalization movement.

"We got good anti-terrorist-bill mileage out of this ordeal", mentioned Starhawk. "The so-called anti-terrorism policies and upcoming laws will be used more against domestic dissidents than actually opposing terrorism."

As to what this means for other North American dissidents, it is unclear now, but there are increasing reports of U.S. and Canada barring and banning grassroots and labour militants who oppose corporate globalization and other state-sponsored activities. On Tuesday, several U.S. medics including a doctor who arrived to provide medical care for the anti-IMF/WB protesters, were refused entry and deported. A non-violent activist, and a labour organizer associated with Fithian and Starhawk were let in only after being fingerprinted, photographed and interrogated.

Canada has also recently admitted that under new immigration policies, virtually no Arabic or Muslim men under the age of 45 are being allowed to immigrate to the country, and their chance to visit is also drastically curtailed. Muslim organizations have been at the forefront, along with civil rights organizations, opposing the passage of the new so-called anti-terrorist laws such as Bill C-35 and C-36.

The broad sweep of these bills being debated now have draconian implications according to unions. Yesterday, the United Nurses of Alberta stated that any strike by them declared illegal would place nurses in the category of terrorists - as the definition includes acts that disrupt public services.