Last updated Dec 20 2005 09:57 AM MST
CBC News
A group of Yukon high school students who attended a peace demonstration in Alaska last year have been labelled a threat by U.S. Homeland Security.
The students and their teachers from Vanier Catholic Secondary School in Whitehorse were singled out when they crossed the border on their way to Fort Greely to protest the proliferation of missiles.
* FROM SEPT. 27, 2004: Anti-missile peace camp hailed as success
A document leaked from the U.S. defense department shows the Whitehorse school group is among a list of more than 1,500 anti-war groups considered a risk to American security. They have been lumped in with other organizations such as the Florida Quakers and student unions from major American universities.
Teacher Mark Connell says he was surprised the Grade 11 and 12 students were included on the list.
Protesters considered a threat to security
Protesters considered a threat to security
“I think it just indicates the level of paranoia that’s at work and that’s a current concern,” he said.
“I think if I was an American concerned with my security, if all of the resources were being put in to monitor a high school group coming from Whitehorse to learn about an issue and to voice my opinion, then I would be concerned about that as well.”
Although the group was labelled a threat at the time of the protest, Connell said they have now been downgraded to what is called the “not credible” category of compromising U.S. security.
They have not been told they cannot travel to the United States again, he said.