CANADIAN POLITICS-VANCOUVER:

NO REPORTERS PLEASE:

According to the Olympic Resistance Network an independent reporter from the USA was barred from entering Canada as he to be covering the opposition to the 2010 Winter Olympics: Here's the story.

Reporter rejected at border:‏
For immediate release – Saturday, February 6, 2010

Independent media reporter rejected at border, detained by border agents and denied outside contact.

Martin Macias Jr., an independent media reporter from Chicago travelling to cover the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver BC, has been rejected by Canadian border agents and held without outside contact for at least 7 hours (as of 9pm) today.

Macias arrived in Vancouver from Chicago (via Minneapolis) on a 11:30 am Delta Airlines flight on Saturday, February 6, 2010. He was detained for hours by Canada Border Services agents in the Vancouver International Airport and questioned about his plans during the Olympics. Ultimately he was refused entry to Canada. He was then put on an Alaskan Airlines flight to the Seattle / Tacoma Airport (departing at 2:40pm). As of 9 pm he had not been able to contact legal counsel or his travelling companion since before his rejection at the border. The information on his rejection was only made available through the US Consulate. It is routine for people rejected at the border to be interrogated by both Canadian and US border agents; he may well still be detained for questioning in the USA at this point.

Although he is entitled to a phone call and legal counsel, nothing has been heard from Macias since about 2 pm when he still expected to be able to enter Canada as planned.

Martin was travelling to Vancouver for political events during the Olympic Resistance Network anti-Olympic convergence and to document the effects of the Winter Olympics on the communities of Vancouver. He was to leave Vancouver for the USA on Feb. 11. He was travelling with political organizer Bob Quellos of No Games Chicago, who was allowed to enter Canada. They were both to be picked up by Chris Shaw, a member of the Olympic Resistance Network, local Olympic critic, and author of ‘The Five Ring Circus’ who himself has been questioned and detained when travelling to a sports conference in the UK and repeatedly approached by members of the Vancouver 2010 Integrated Security Unit (Olympic policing body) regarding his political activities.

Canadian border agents, police, and intelligence units have been actively surveilling, questioning and harassing opponents of the Olympic Games (and their associates and families) for years. Media, such as Amy Goodman of Democracy Now, have been subject to questioning and increased scrutiny as well.

Macias (20 years old) was a leading member of No Games Chicago - which successfully opposed Chicago's bid for the 2016 Summer Olympics. He is a youth organizer for the Chicago Environmental Justice Coalition, and Comite 10 de marzo, an immigrant rights organization. He is also a media reform activist with community radio station Radio Arte where he serves as the host/producer of First Voice, a radio news zine. He has covered the 2008 Democratic National Convention in Denver, Power Shift 2009 in Washington D.C., and local social justice issues in his community. He currently chairs the Peace Committee at the National Museum of Mexican Art.

Macias can normally be reached through reclaimtheearth@gmail.com . Independent media, activists and opponents of the Olympics are gathering in Vancouver for the Feb. 10-15 anti-Olympic convergence organized by the Olympic Resistance Network. It begins with a two-day conference (Feb.10-11) and a mass protest and march on the day of the opening ceremonies(‘Take Back Our City,’ 3pm Friday, Feb. 12 beginning at the Vancouver Art Gallery) organized by the 2010 Welcoming Committee, and continues with three days of political events and demonstrations.

Visitors have been subject to interrogations, detention, and rejection at the Canadian border repeatedly and members of the Olympic Resistance Network have been interrogated at the US border and denied entry to the USA for speaking tours.

Media Contacts:

Bob Quellos: 773-531-2341

Chris Shaw: 604-710-8291

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Here's some valuable information for you to know if you plan to travel from the USA to attend the Anti-Olympic Convergence.

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Updated Legal & Border Support Info‏
** LEGAL PHONE NUMBERS ***

BCCLA Arrest line (if you are arrested): 604-689-9540

BCCLA Support line (friends and families missing someone): 604-689-9547

BCCLA Tip line (to report misconduct): 1-866-610-0385

Immigration/border line: 1-877-823-2010 or 604-630-7502

* Updated Border Crossing Information and what to do if you are stopped:

http://olympicresistance.net/content/crossing-border-canada

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The Olympic Resistance Network is still looking for people to help out during the coming convergence. Here's what they would like.

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Updated ORN Wish List:‏
Call-out for supplies and support

The Olympics Resistance Network (http://olympicresistance.net/) is seeking support and supplies!

In addition to building ongoing educational and resistance efforts, the Olympics Resistance Network is hosting and coordinating logistics for an anti-2010 convergence, between Feb 10th-15th 2010. You can help by providing:

1. Housing for out-of-town activists: If you have a couch or extra floor space, please help us out by providing sleep space for out of town activists. Fill out the housing form at: http://olympicresistance.net/content/2010-convergence-billeting-form

2. We are seeking volunteers to make the Convergence happen! We need everyone who is able to please take on shifts to staff the Welcoming Centre, help prepare food, provide childcare, and more. Please contact 604-723-1206 with your name, when you are available, what you are willing to do, and your contact information.

3. Safe spaces: There will be many people from out of town arriving in Vancouver for the anti-Olympic convergence and we are looking for allies who are willing to be listed in our Welcoming Package as safe spaces.These will not be places for anti-Olympic organizing, just a place to stop by and hang out. If your business, community centre, or other physical space is willing to explore the idea of being listed as a space sympathetic to the Anti-Olympic Convergence please let us know and we are happy to work with you in a way that most suits you.

4. Food and cooking supplies: coffee cream fresh veggies and fruit tea bread cups sugar non-perishable food (beans, rice, etc.) cutlery water bottles dish soap towels/clothes yoghurt containers crock pots garbage bags cooking utensils

5. Communications equipment: walkie-talkies working cell phones megaphones generators speakers/sound system

6. Other Supplies: tarps awnings/tents pens/paper childcare supplies duct tape banner-making materials blankets rain jackets/sweaters bungee cords ropes bikes flip charts/markers/tape chairs cots desks

6. Clinic Furniture/Materials:Folding cots, massage table, blankets, lots of spare clothes, chairs, folding tables, shelving, rubber maid containers, racks of various kinds and sizes.

7. Transportation: Contact us if you have a car or bike trailer and are willing to transport supplies during the anti-olympics convergence. We also need Bicycle donations - used, working and those needing minor repairs.

8. Please donate! Hosting this convergence requires significant funds, including legal defence funds. You can donate securely through PayPal on our website: http://olympicresistance.net/content/send-us-money

or cheques can be made out to Olympic Resistance Network and mailed to ORN, 6 - 1857 Kitchener St, Vancouver, BC, V5L 2W5.

Email ornfundraise@riseup.net to arrange direct deposits or other queries.

Drop-off points: If you would like to drop off donations, you can do so at:

1. Baaad Anna's: - 2667 East Hastings St., Vancouver. Monday - Sunday (11 am to 6 pm). 604-255-2577

2. Rhizome Café: 317 East Broadway, Vancouver. Tuesday - Sunday (11 am to 9 pm).

3. For pick-up in the Downtown Eastside, East Vancouver or Burnaby, call: 604-773-9057. Or contact us at: 604-723-1206