On December 8th, Canadian science fiction writer, Peter Watts, was beaten without provocation and arrested by US border guards.
Friend and fellow sci-fi writer, David Nickle, writes:
Peter, a Canadian citizen, was on his way back to Canada after helping a friend move house to Nebraska over the weekend. He was stopped at the border crossing at Port Huron, Michigan by U.S. border police for a search of his rental vehicle. When Peter got out of the car and questioned the nature of the search, the gang of border guards subjected him to a beating, restrained him and pepper sprayed him. At the end of it, local police laid a felony charge of assault against a federal officer against Peter. On Wednesday, he posted bond. He's home safe. For now. But he has to go back to Michigan to face the charge brought against him.
The charge is spurious. But it's also very serious. It could mean two years in prison in the United States, and a ban on travel in that country for the rest of Peter's life. Peter is mounting a vigorous defense, but it's going to be expensive - he's effectively going up against the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, and he needs the best legal help that he can get.
To help Peter, please send donations via PayPal at donate@rifters.com or through the PayPal link on the author's website.
Cheques made out to Peter Watts can be mailed to Bakka Phoenix Science Fiction Bookstore at this address:
Bakka-Phoenix Books / 697 Queen St. West / Toronto, Ontario / M6J 1E6
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