Christopher Scott Magaoay (born September 21, 1985), best known by his activist alias C. S. Magaoay, is an American researcher and

activist Activism (or Advocacy) consists of efforts to promote, impede, direct or intervene in social, political, economic or environmental reform with the desire to make changes in society toward a perceived greater good. Forms of activism range fro ...

best known for his outspoken stance on the

War on Terror The war on terror, officially the Global War on Terrorism (GWOT), is an ongoing international Counterterrorism, counterterrorism military campaign initiated by the United States following the September 11 attacks. The main targets of the campa ...

and North America Immigration Policies. His statements have been published in newspapers, periodicals and books worldwide. He has also had interviews broadcast internationally, featured in multiple documentaries and spoken throughout Canada during his time there in exile during his unauthorized absence from the

United States Marine Corps The United States Marine Corps (USMC), also referred to as the United States Marines, is the maritime land force service branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for conducting expeditionary and amphibious operations through combi ...

Activism

While living in Canada, Magaoay became an active member of the War Resisters Canada network of activists. He spoke at anti-war rallies, events, and forums across Canada. Magaoay was a sought after speaker for organizations wishing to be educated of the ongoing wars in Iraq and Afghanistan from a "soldiers" perspective. In the five years spent in Toronto, he lectured at the

University of Toronto The University of Toronto (UToronto or U of T) is a public research university in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, located on the grounds that surround Queen's Park. It was founded by royal charter in 1827 as King's College, the first institution ...

Ryerson University Toronto Metropolitan University (TMU or Toronto Met) is a public university, public research university located in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. The university's core campus is situated within the Garden District, Toronto, Garden District, although i ...

York University York University (french: Université York), also known as YorkU or simply YU, is a public university, public research university in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. It is Canada's fourth-largest university, and it has approximately 55,700 students, 7,0 ...

, Geulph University

Humber College The Humber College Institute of Technology & Advanced Learning, commonly known as Humber College, is a public College of Applied Arts and Technology in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Founded in 1967, Humber has two main campuses: the Humber North c ...

, Seneca College and many other educational institutions in Ontario. Throughout all of this, Magaoay attempted to permanently resettle in Canada with his wife at the time, Sahar Zerehi who was a Canadian citizen. However under the conservative parliament in power in Canada at the time, Canada's immigration policies were very strict even for spousal immigration. Magaoay became interested in the plight of immigrants and refugees in his activism. Over his last two years in Canada, Magaoay became a prominent voice in immigration politics in Canada and worked alongside Olivia Chow MP (NDP) and others. In addition to anti-war and immigration activism, Magaoay also was elected to the board of the Ontario Public Interest Research Group for the

. While a member he frequently voted to fund activist efforts by students and student groups of the university.

Professional career

Christopher Magaoay with Lieutenant Governor of Ontario

Upon arriving in Canada, Magaoay started his career as a new media marketing professional with Shahrvand Publications Ltd. in Toronto. He worked there as the Director of Creative Information Systems. There he worked with Shahrvand's staff to create new media presentations of current events pertaining to the Middle Eastern immigrant communities of Canada. In 2006, Magaoay started Rubber Duck Media a New Media Public Relations and Marketing company. His client profiles included left-leaning Toronto City Councillors, Olivia Chow MP, Toronto and York Region Labour Council, Ontario Federation of Labour, United Food and Commercial Workers, and Fasken Martineau LLP. In 2008, he was presented with an award from the National Ethnic Media and Press Council of Canada by the

Lieutenant Governor of Ontario The lieutenant governor of Ontario (, in French: ''Lieutenant-gouverneur'' (if male) or ''Lieutenante-gouverneure'' (if female) ''de l'Ontario'') is the viceregal representative in Ontario of the , who operates distinctly within the province bu ...

for best New Media presentation of current events. Magaoay was also made a permanent member of the Board of the National Ethnic Media and Press Council of Canada for his work promoting immigrant and refugee rights in Canada, specifically from the Middle East. In 2010 after being released from Naval Brig Norfolk for his military charges.

Personal life

After returning to the United States from Canada, Magaoay lived in New York for a brief period until his eventual return to Hawaii in 2011.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Magaoay, C. S. 1985 births Living people American anti–Iraq War activists Iraq War resisters People from Wailuku, Hawaii