At least 14 people (9 civilians and 5 soldiers) were killed in the U.S. missile strikes on the Shayrat Military Airbase in Syria on April 6, 2017. This unilateral action taken by the U.S. is a blatant act of imperialist aggression and an egregious violation of international law, which cannot be justified. The strike, authorized by U.S. President Donald Trump, was linked to a chemical weapons attack in the town of Khan Sheikun that reportedly killed as many as 100 people on April 4. There is no conclusive proof who is behind this attack.
U.S. attacks on Syria have already killed scores of civilians, including children. For example, the war against the Islamic State waged by the U.S.-led coalition, under Obama, carried out three massacres in Syria in July 2016.
The Pentagon says it is considering further military action against Syria. U.S. military troops in Syria now number over 1,000.
The U.S. attack further escalates the war in Syria and in the larger region while also increasing the possibility of military confrontation between nuclear weapons powers. Russia and Iran are also intervening on the side of the Assad regime in a war in which there are no sides to support.
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau had previously promised that Canada would not participate in any further military attacks on Syria but is now supporting the illegal U.S. bombing on Syria on April 6.
No One Is Illegal Fredericton calls for a peaceful solution to the war in Syria — one that does not punish Syrians for Assad’s war crimes with more bombs and economic sanctions.
We demand that Canada stop selling weapons to countries that are funding and arming the war in Syria, including cancelling the $15 billion arms deal with Saudi Arabia.
We demand that Canada open its borders to all refugees, apply pressure on the U.S. to lift its ban on refugees from certain countries and lift the cap on private sponsorship of Syrian refugees.
Freedom to move, freedom to stay and freedom to return.