Graham Defense Update
- Latest Information
- Actions and Events
Who is
John Graham?
-
Personal Photo Album
- A History of
Activism
- Freedom Returned
Statements of Support
- Officials and Chiefs
- Human Rights Groups
- Unions and Activists
Please urge the Supreme Court Chief Justice of Canada to accept John Graham’s appeal (hand written letters are preferred, rather than e-mails). It should be stressed that the case is a matter of national importance. Letters should also be written to the justice critics of the oppostion parties.
Supreme Court Chief Justice Beverley McLachlin
Supreme Court of Canada
301 Wellington St.
Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
K1A 0J1
E-mail: reception@scc-csc.gc.ca
Fax: (613) 996-3063
Tel: (613) 995-4330
Executive Legal Officer to the Chief Justice, Jill Copeland
Email: media@scc-csc.gc.ca
Fax: (613) 952-3092
Tel. (613) 996-9296
Liberal Justice Critic
Marlene Jennings
416 West Block
Ottawa Ontario, CANADA K1A 0A6
Email: jennim@parl.gc.ca
Fax: (613) 996-1481
Tel: (613) 995-2251
NDP Justice Critic
Joe Comartin
713 Justice Building
House of Commons
Ottawa, Ontario, CANADA K1A OA6
E-mail: comarj@parl.gc.ca
Fax: (613) 947-3448
Tel: (613) 947-3445
The "Release John Graham" Letter Writing Campaign
Join the growing chorus of people opposed to the the extradition of John Graham — and to the FBI's continuation of judicial abuse — by sending an e-mail to Canada's Minister of Justice, Minister of Foreign Affairs, the Yukon's Minister of Justice, and your Member of Parliament.
E-mail
your letters opposing John Graham's extradition to the following:
(A sample letter can be found at the bottom of this page)
Canada’s Minister of Justice
The Honourable Robert Douglas Nicholson
Justice Canada
East Memorial Building, 4th Floor
284 Wellington Street
Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
K1A 0H8
Telephone: (613) 992-4621
Fax: (613) 990-7255
E-mail: nichor@parl.gc.ca
Canada's Minister of Foreign Affairs
Honourable Hon. Peter MacKay,
e-mail: MacKay.P@parl.gc.ca
Yukon's Minister of Justice
Honourable John Edzerza,
e-mail: john.edzerza@gov.yk.ca
Your Member
of Parliament
From the
Canadian
Government Web site,
select "QUICKTIPS";
then select "YOUR MP" from the menu bar at the left.
If you would like a response, please specify in your e-mail and include your return mailing address.
Other officials:
Right Honourable Stephen
Harper, Prime Minister,
e-mail: Harper.S@parl.gc.ca
Honourable Peter Van Loan,
Leader of the Government in the House of Commons,
e-mail: VanLoan.P@parl.gc.ca
Honourable Marjory LeBreton,
Leader of the Government in the Senate,
e-mail: LeBreton.M@parl.gc.ca
Honourable Rona Ambrose,
President of the Queen's Privy Council for Canada,
e-mail: Ambrose.R@parl.gc.ca
Honourable Jim Prentice,
Minister of Indian Affairs and Norther Development,
e-mail: Prentice.J@parl.gc.ca
Honourable Josée Verner,
Minister of International Cooperation,
e-mail: Verner.J@parl.gc.ca
It is also helpful to send a signed hard-copy of your letter opposing John Graham's extradition to the following address:
The Honourable Robert Nicholson
Minister of Justice of Canada
284 Wellington Street
Ottawa, Ontario
Canada K1A 0H8
Add your signature to the growing list, on our on-line petition opposing John Graham's extradition.
Sample Letter
If you prefer to use our draft letter, please "cut and paste" the following text for your e-mails and letters.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
Dear Honourable [NAME OF MINISTER OR M.P. HERE]
John Graham is a Canadian aboriginal man from Whitehorse, Yukon. He is a father to eight children, a community organizer, and an advocate for aboriginal issues. John Graham was arrested on a U.S. indictment in Vancouver on December 1, 2003, and is currently awaiting an extradition hearing.
John Graham is charged with the murder of Anna Mae Pictou-Aquash, who was his friend and colleague in the American Indian Movement during the mid-1970s. John has always maintained his innocence of this crime which occurred in South Dakota 28 years ago.
Leonard Peltier, a fellow activist in the American Indian Movement, suffered an extradition from Canada based on fabricated evidence and false affidavits presented by the FBI. The former justice minister and judge who allowed the extradition, Warren Allmand, has since said that he would never have agreed to the extradition had he known some affidavits and evidence presented by the U.S. were false.
In a recent statement of support, Leonard Peltier himself said, "I fear that John will not receive a fair trial in the U.S. anymore than I did. I must remind you, it is court record that the FBI lied to extradite me back to the U.S."
Leonard Peltier's subsequent trial has been widely recognized as a travesty of justice, attracting criticism from human rights organizations and activists including Amnesty International, Nelson Mandela and Jesse Jackson.
Because Leonard Peltier's case was based on
matters directly connected to the
charges against John Graham, I am deeply concerned that the evidence
presented may be false and groundless. In
fact, the trial of John Graham's co-accused Arlo
Looking Cloud revealed a case built entirely on hearsay and innuendo.
For these reasons, and because John Graham is a First Nation Canadian
citizen arrested in Canada and charged with
a crime against another Canadian, it is my
hope that the Canadian Government will
prevent a "rubber-stamped"
extradition, and will agree instead to a trial on Canadian
soil.
In the wake of Leonard Peltier and Maher Arar, we must not allow Canada to facilitate - either knowingly or otherwise - another human rights tragedy against one of its own.
If you would like more information about the matter of John Graham, please visit the John Graham Defense Committee website at www.grahamdefense.org.
I look forward to your reply.
Sincerely,
[YOUR NAME AND MAILING ADDRESS HERE]