No One Is Illegal Radio (September 2007): Shawn Brant and Benamar Benatta

This month’s edition of No One Is Illegal Radio features interviews with Benamar Benatta Canada’s first 9/11 rendition to torture AND, in his first public interview since his release from jail, Shawn Brant of the Tyendinaga Mohawk Community.

--> LISTEN to the September 2007 edition of No One Is Illegal radio at: http://www.radio4all.net/proginfo.php?id=24582

-- BENAMAR BENATTA, Canada’s first 9/11 rendition to torture: Benatta, a refugee from Algeria, was detained close to five years without charge in the United States after being illegally removed from Canada. In the US, Benatta was subject to abusive treatment and torture. He is now back in Canada, pursuing his asylum claim, and demanding answers from Canadian authorities.

In this interview, Benatta describes the abusive treatment he suffered while in detention, Canada’s direct role in his rendition, and current efforts for a public review of his case.

For more info about Benamar Bennata’s case, consult: http://www.benamarbenatta.com

-- SHAWN BRANT, Mohawk organizer and activist from the Tyendinaga Mohawk Community in Eastern Ontario: Shawn was jailed since July 5, 2007, denied bail in relation to his participation in native blockades of rail lines and highways on the territory of the Tyendinaga Mohawks. The blockades were undertaken to raise awareness about the reclamation of a piece of land called the Culbertson Tract adjoining Tyendinaga, living conditions in indigenous communities, and struggles for sovereignty and self-determination.

Shawn was finally granted bail on August 31 and is currently under house arrest in Tyendinaga. In this wide-ranging interview, Shawn addresses many topics, including: an overview of the campaign to reclaim the Culberston Tract, the double-standard of undertaking economic disruption, courage on the frontlines, the forced breakup of the Mohawk confederacy in 1924, and the CN Rail lawsuit against Mohawk activists. Shawn also responds to evidence of Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) wiretapping, the remarks of OPP chief Julian Fantino, the recent claim of sabotage against CN in Montreal, as well as providing a critical view of non-native solidarity.

For more info about support for Shawn Brant and the Tyendinaga Mohawk Community: http://www.ocap.ca/supporttmt.html

--> LISTEN to the September 2007 edition of No One Is Illegal radio at: http://www.radio4all.net/proginfo.php?id=24582

PREVIOUS SHOWS of NO ONE IS ILLEGAL RADIO on CKUT:

::: August 2007 :::

- Sverre Pederson, an anti-racism activist in Oslo, speaking about Afghan refugees refusing forcible removal from Norway:
- Jenn Tsun, a dissident member of the Ardoch Algonquin First Nation, speaking about indigenous sovereignty and the resistance to uranium mining by the Algonquins of Sharbot Lake;
- Farha Najah and Nazila Bettache of No One Is Illegal-Montreal, and Roderick Calderon of the Siklab Migrant Workers Support Group, speaking about the Security and Prosperity Partnership (SPP) from a community assembly in Montreal;

LISTEN to the August 2007 show at: http://www.radio4all.net/proginfo.php?id=24164

::: July 2007 :::

- Kahehti:io: a youth from the Kahnawake Mohawk Territory, south of Montreal, speaking about the blockade of Highway 30 and the shutdown of the Mercier bridge on June 29, the inspiration of the resistance at Tyendinaga, the anniversary of Oka, and unity amongst indigenous activists.
- Gord Hill, member of the Kwakwaka'wakw nation who has been active with the Native Youth Movement, the Sutikalh Camp and other groups, speaking about the “collaborators” of the Assembly of First Nations (AFN), the Indian Act band council system, actions on June 29 and Anti-Canada Day actions on July 1st, the inspiration of indigenous elders Harriet Nahanee and Louis Hall, the legacy of Oka, the “warrior spirit”, among other topics.

LISTEN to the July 2007 show at: http://www.radio4all.net/proginfo.php?id=23762

::: June 2007 :::

- Antonia Baker of the Prisoners Justice Action Committee (PJAC) in Toronto, about the series of “tough on crime” bills introduced by the Harper government, and Canada’s emerging Prison Industrial Complex;
- Jill Chettiar of the Anti-Poverty Committee (APC) in Vancouver, about the disruptive tactics being employed to oppose the upcoming Olympic Games in Vancouver and Whistler in 2010, in support of anti-poverty and indigenous sovereignty efforts;
- Ashley Turner and Rob Block of Sin Fronteras in Houston, Texas, about a recent protest at an immigration detention facility, as part of a Global Day of Action for Free Movement coinciding with anti-G8 protests in Germany;

LISTEN to the June 2007 show at: http://www.radio4all.net/proginfo.php?id=23533

::: May 2007 :::

Special CKUT Fundraising Show

- Rhonda Martin, mother of former Six Nations political prisoner Chris Hill; Chris was held in a Hamilton-area detention centre for over three months in relation to charges relating to the Ontario Provincial Police raid on the Six Nations Land Reclamation that has been ongoing since February 2006;
- Jason Maracle, a spokesperson for the Mohawks of the Bay of Quinte who has been involved in the ongoing reclamation of a quarry site on a part of Mohawk land called the “Culberston Tract” as well as a 30-hour plus blockade of CN railway lines to put pressure on government officials to properly settle land claims;
- Maria Muentez of Families for Freedom reporting about the May 1 immigrant justice protests in New York City

- Ashanti Alston, former Black Panther and prison justice activist, speaking about the importance of independent media, as well as providing an update about the San Franciso 8 trial of several former Black Panthers;
- Sophie Harkat, an activist against secret trials and security certificates, and the partner of Mohamed Harkat, one of Canada’s “Secret Trial Five,”speaking about the current fight against deportation by Mohamed, as well as the severe bail conditions faced by her and her husband;

- Amir Hodhod from Jersey City; a refugee from Egypt, and an active member of the Workers Solidarity Network and Solidarity Across Borders in Montreal, Amir lived as an “illegal” in Canada, and was deported to the United States where he was detained in December 2006;

LISTEN to the May 2007 show at: http://www.radio4all.net/proginfo.php?id=23164

::: April 2007 :::

- Shawn Brant of the Tyendinaga Mohawk Community in Eastern Ontario, about the ongoing occupation of a quarry, as part of a land reclamation effort on the Culberston Tract;
- Corinn Williams, about a raid by Immigrant and Customs Enforcement (ICE) on a manufacturing plant, involving hundreds of armed agents, police, military, as well as helicopters, resulting in the detention of more than 350 migrant workers, mainly young women with infant and small children;
- Khadija Bennis, the twin sister of Anas Bennis who was killed by Montreal police in still unexplained circumstances on December 1, 2005;

LISTEN to the April 2007 show at: http://www.radio4all.net/proginfo.php?id=22676

::: March 2007 :::

Special about the People’s Commission into Immigration “Security” Measures

- Fetya Ahmed, Sarwat Viquar & Jared Will, commissioners: presenting the findings of the People's Commission;
- Sarita Ahooja, member of No One Is Illegal-Montreal and a commissioner: speaking on the Land Reclamation at Six Nations;
- Khadija Bennis, spokesperson of the Justice for Anas Campaign: speaking about the killing of her brother by Montreal police;
- Mary Foster, member of the Justice Coalition for Adil Charkaoui and an organizer of the People's Commission: speaking about the Kingston Immigration Holding Center ("Guantanamo North") and the Secret Trial Five;
- Tatiana Gomez, member of Solidarity Across Borders and an organizer of the People's Commission: speaking about the case of Amparo Torres, a Colombia refugee facing deportation based on secret evidence;
- Hicham Hillal, member of the Al Hidaya Association: speaking about Islamophobia and the racial and religious profiling of Arab and Muslim communities;
- Marie-Eve Lamy, member of the Justice Coalition for Adil Charkaoui and an organizer of the People's Commission: speaking about the case of Suleyman Goven, a Kurdish refugee to Canada who was denied status for 15 years due to CSIS harassment and intimidation;
- Leila Pourtavaf, member of No One Is Illegal-Montreal and a researcher for the People's Commission: speaking on the current immigration regime in Canada;
- Laura Schevchenko, organizer with the Sogi Bachan Singh Support Committee: providing an update about the deportation to possible torture of Sogi Singh, based on secret evidence

LISTEN to the March 2007 show at: http://www.radio4all.net/proginfo.php?id=22700

::: February 2007 :::

- Katenies, member of the Akwesasne Mohawk Community, who is currently wanted on an arrest warrant for refusing to appear in court as she steadfastly refuses to recognize the jurisdiction of the Canadian courts and border officials;
- Kavitha Pawria, organizer with Desis Rising Up and Moving (DRUM) in New York City, about the recent dawn arrest of an entire Pakistani family in New York City, part of the ongoing "War on Terror" in migrant communities.

LISTEN to the February 2007 show at: http://www.radio4all.net/proginfo.php?id=21783

::: January 2007 :::

- ahntinetha of Mohawk Nation News from January 1, 2007; she reports on historic events at the Grand River Territory of Six Nations, where a traditional Confederacy House, shut down by the Canadian government in 1924, was re-opened.
- Ahmad Jaballah, the 20-year old eldest son of Mahmoud Jaballah, one of the three detainees at the "Guantanamo North" prison near Kingston, Ontario. Jaballah was detained without charge, on secret evidence, for more than five years; includes a reading of the "Open Letter from Guantanamo North".
- Amir Hodhod, who on December 27, 2006, after several months living without legal status in Canada, was deported to the United States and spent 7 days in the Buffalo Federal Detention Facility.

LISTEN to the January 2007 show at: http://www.radio4all.net/proginfo.php?id=21252

::: May-December 2006 :::

An archive of No One Is Illegal Radio's 2006 shows is available at:

http://nooneisillegal-montreal.blogspot.com/2007/01/no-one-is-illegal-radio-2006-archive.html

Our 2006 shows include the voices of:

- Latifa Charkaoui: mother of Adil Charkaoui, one of the Secret Trial Five;

- Arnoldo Garcia: organizer with the National Network for Immigrant and Refugee Rights in Oakland, California;

- Kahehti:io: Mohawk youth activist from Kahnawake, arrested at the Land Reclamation at Six Nations;

- Sherene Razack, author of "Looking White People in the Eye," and a witness at the People's Commission into Immigration "Security" Measures;

- Hassan Almrei: secret trial detainee at Guantanamo North Prison, detained without trial since 2001;

- Karen Coq: member of No One Is Illegal-Kingston, active in opposing the Guantanamo North prison;

- Amir Hodhod: a member of Solidarity Across Borders who marched to Ottawa from Montreal in June 2005, and is fighting a pending deportation from Canada;

- Hazel Hill: spokesperson for the Six Nations Land Reclamation;

- Kahentinehta: of Mohawk Nation News and a defender of Mohawk territory during the Oka Crisis of 1990;

- Roberta Keesick: elder, trapper and activist from the Grassy Narrows indigenous territory in Northwestern Ontario; the blockade against logging at Grassy Narrows is the longest blockade in Canadian history;

- Arash Aslani: refugee from Iran, and former 10-month detainee at the Laval Detention Center near Montreal;

- Teresa Hayter: author of “Open Borders” and organizer with the Campaign to Close Campsfield Detention Center in England;

- Aarti Shahani: anti-deportations and anti-detentions activist with Families for Freedom in New York City;

- Rasha Moumneh, of the Helem LGBT group in Beirut, Lebanon;

- Nay: activist with Aswat, a queer justice group in Palestine;

- Rafeef Ziadah: the Coalition Against Israeli Apartheid in Toronto;

- Ashanti Alston Omowali: anarchist activist, former political prisoner, and member of the Black Panther Party;

- Biju Mathew: organizer with the New York Taxi Worker’s Alliance;

- Trudy Miller: mother of indigenous Six Nations political prisoner Trevor Miller;

- Angel Smith: cousin of Trevor Miller;

- Khadija Bennis: twin sister of Mohamed Anas Bennis, killed by the Montreal police.

An archive of No One Is Illegal Radio's 2006 shows is available at:

http://nooneisillegal-montreal.blogspot.com/2007/01/no-one-is-illegal-radio-2006-archive.html

-----

Tune-in live to No One Is Illegal Radio on the 1st Thursday of every month, from 5-6pm, as part of CKUT’s “Off The Hour”.

--> You can listen live in the MONTREAL-area at 90.3FM.

--> You can listen ANYWHERE online at www.ckut.ca

Contact noii-montreal@resist.ca to get regular updates about the organizing of No One Is Illegal-Montreal, including audio links to our upcoming shows.

No One Is Illegal-Montreal is part of a worldwide movement of resistance, fighting for justice and dignity, and the right to self-determination for migrants, refugees and indigenous people. Our campaign is in public confrontation with the Canadian state, denouncing and taking action to combat racial profiling, police brutality, detentions and deportations, exploitation and wage-slave conditions, as well as opposing the displacement and genocide of indigenous peoples on Turtle Island.

INFO: 514-848-7583 -- noii-montreal@resist.ca

http://nooneisillegal-montreal.blogspot.com