BACKGROUNDER

On November 21, 2000, Lucy Lu, in a desperate attempt to avoid deportation, took sanctuary inside a small neighborhood church in Kingston, Ontario, Canada.

Lu, 43, was unjustly convicted of manslaughter for the 1985 death of her first husband in Toronto. Lu maintains that she is innocent and says she pleaded guilty to escape the legal mess she found herself in after the first two trials ended in a hung jury and a mistrial.

Since her release from prison in 1991, Lu has been a model citizen and exemplary member of the community. She holds a valid work permit, and has actively volunteered in the community.

If forcibly returned to her Chinese homeland, Lu could face a re-trial and the death penalty for a crime we believe she did not commit. Canadian authorities claim they will not forcibly remove Lucy from Calvary Bible Church, but will immediately deport her back to China once she steps off the church's property.

Lucy is fortunate in that the Calvary Bible Church family, along with a growing list of friends and supporters, remains firmly behind her. Together with Lucy's second husband, Daryl Gellner, they ask you to support Lucy in her efforts to remain in this country.

Lucy has been in Canada for seventeen years. She is married to a Canadian citizen. She works hard and faithfully pays taxes, volunteers in the community and has been a loved and valued member of her church for more than ten years.

Moreover, to quote immigration authorities who recently reviewed her case, "[Lucy's] behaviour since her release has been sterling." With these facts in mind, it is puzzling why these same officials want to send Lucy back to China to face misery, torment and a possible sentence of death.

The backgrounder was reprinted from the Lucy Lu website

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Letter from Daryl Gellner, Lucy's husband:

We recently sent you a letter outlining the plight of a Chinese immigrant here in Canada. Her name is Lucy Lu. This lady, as our letter indicated, was wrongly convicted of a crime in Canada, served time, has been free, living and working in Canada and suddenly the Canadian government wants to send her back to China.

There she faces re-trial for the same crime she has already paid for and if convicted in China faces the death penalty. This is called double jeopardy. A massive effort is underway in Canada to have her case re-opened as there is strong evidence due to an investigative reporter's work to indicate someone else was in fact responsible for the crime. Lucy has always maintained her innocence.

In any event, Lucy's story has been covered extensively in the press, television and radio. A documentary is being filmed presently. Over 1000 letters have been sent to Human Rights' groups, church organizations and Women's groups world-wide. The response has been encouraging. Several unions, judges, lawyers, human rights' groups, police officials, politicians including the Speaker of the House of Commons have come out in support of this unfortunate woman.

However, when the media asks if any women's groups have responded to Lucy's plight, we must reply "NOT YET". We explain that it may be that it is still in the discussion stage and we expect to hear from some soon.

The documentary mentioned is outlining the life of Lucy coming from China, a male dominated society, to Canada in an arranged marriage. After her husband, who during their ten month marriage was away for weeks at a time and engaged in questionable activities, was found murdered, Lucy was charged with the crime.

After serving time, 2-1/2 years, and being in Canada a total of 16 years, the Canadian government wants to ship her back to the same male dominated society where, in the mind of this society, she has stepped well outside the traditional role of a woman. It does not take a lot of imagination to understand what will happen to her.

We are told by reporters in China who refuse to be identified that Lucy Lu will in all probability be tortured, executed and her body parts sold as an example to her people of what happens when a woman does not stay in her place.

If you would like to know more about the story of Lucy Lu, you can contact:
Citizens for Justice for Lucy Lu
P.O. Box 1828, Kingston, Ontario, Canada, K7L 5J6

or email your request to lucy@lucylu.net.

You can also visit Lucy's web site at www.lucylu.net where you will find a link to our Prime Minister and to a petition.

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Sample Letter

Edit as you wish ... this is only intended as a guide based on the information we have available.

[Enter Date]

[Enter Name] The Hon. Hedy Fry, Secretary of State (Multiculturalism) (Status of Women)


I am writing to you, as the [Enter Position] Minister responsible for the Status of Women], on behalf of [Enter Organization Name if Applicable] the DisAbled Women's Network (DAWN) Ontario to ask for a stay on Lucy Lu's exportation and a contextualized review of the case to grant her status and citizenship.

On November 21, 2000, Lucy Lu, in a desperate attempt to avoid deportation, took sanctuary inside a small neighbourhood church in Kingston, Ontario, Canada. Lucy Lu, 43, was unjustly convicted of manslaughter for the 1985 death of her first husband in Toronto. Lucy Lu maintains that she is innocent and says she pleaded guilty to escape the legal mess she found herself in after the first two trials ended in a hung jury and a mistrial.

Since her release from prison in 1991, Lu has been a model citizen and exemplary member of the community. She holds a valid work permit, and has actively volunteered in the community. If forcibly returned to her Chinese homeland, Lucy Lu could face a re-trial and the death penalty for a crime we believe she did not commit. Canadian authorities claim they will not forcibly remove Lucy from Calvary Bible Church, but will immediately deport her back to China once she steps off the church's property.

We want you to know [Enter Name] Minister Fry, that in addition to the Calvary Bible Church family, along with a growing list of friends and supporters, the DisAbled Women's Network Ontario, comprised of 2,658 members from across Ontario stand firmly behind Lucy Lu.

Lucy has been in Canada for seventeen years. She is married to a Canadian citizen. She works hard and faithfully pays taxes, volunteers in the community and has been a loved and valued member of her church for more than ten years.

Moreover, to quote immigration authorities who recently reviewed her case, "[Lucy's] behaviour since her release has been sterling." With these facts in mind, it is puzzling why these same officials want to send Lucy back to China to face misery, torment and a possible sentence of death.

Sincerely,

[Your Name]
[Enter Title if applicable]
[Enter organization's Name if Applicable]

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