Oct. 17: Grannies to enlist

(The Raging Grannies in Tuscon in July. Photo: Kynn Bartlett Wednesday July 27, 2005)

Oct. 17, noon

Grannies to enlist
Times Square Recruiting Station

From: Grandmothers Against the War

To all anti-war grannies and supporters in the New York City area:

We need you to participate in a major anti-war action on Oct. 17. We are planning a GRANDMOTHERS FOR PEACE event at the Times Square Recruiting Center, patterned after the Tucson Raging Grannies event of July 13 [see above] this past summer. At that action, the grandmothers tried to enlist in the armed services in order to replace soldiers in Iraq who wanted to come home, and were arrested for trespassing. News and pictures of the action and arrest went all over the world, much to the women's surprise, and, among much other press and media attention, they appeared on the "TODAY" Show.

A group of 10 of us will emulate their action by attempting to enlist at noon on Oct. 17, in order to relieve from duty our grandchildren currently deployed in Iraq. A larger group is needed to surround the outside of the recruiting center carrying signs, handing out opt-out material and information about the extreme dangers of depleted uranium having such a devastating effect on our military and their offspring. We have the full enthusiastic support of the Tucson Grannies, who hoped their action would spark similar actions.

We invite your participation in this very important event either to enlist (we need about 4 other grandmas to attempt to sign up) or to act as a support group outside. To date, members of Raging Grannies, Women's International League for Peace and Freedom, West Side Peace Action, Grandmothers Against the War, Code Pink, and Grandmothers for Peace International have met to organize for Oct. 17. Please respond by email to me if you and/or your organization can join us, and I'll get further information to you quickly. We welcome endorsements.

We believe there is nothing more effective than grandmother power! The experience and
wisdom of we elders cannot be ignored. Here is an opportunity to help bring an end to this awful war as soon as possible before another young person loses life or limb.

Won't you join us?

Joan Wile, Director,
Grandmothers Against the War