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Grannies' Stories Monday, September 25th, 2006 By Joan Wile, Founder/Director Grandmothers Against the War and Member, Granny Peace Brigade We grannies can't seem to stay out of jail! We're re-defining the concept of grandmothers from apple-cheeked, gingham-clad rocking chair occupants to feisty kick-ass jailbirds fighting the unspeakably bad powers that be. When Bush came to shove -- shove away more human rights -- at the United Nations on September 19, a contingent of the Granny Peace Brigade marched along with about 3,000 other people approximately a mile from midtown to as near the U.N. as we could get. There had been a struggle to get permission to march at all, but finally the New York City Police Department relented and allowed us to walk in a bike lane up Sixth Avenue from 37th Street and then across 49th Street to First Avenue. A rally was held, and included among the notables speaking there the Reverend Jesse Jackson. Four of the Granny Peace Brigade members were arrested when they and twelve other protesters drew close to the barricades leading to the U.N. We don't know why, as they were not obstructing anything or anybody. But, this time, unlike the gentle treatment accorded the grannies when we were arrested on October 17 for sitting down when denied entrance to the Times Square Recruiting Station, the cops were on the rough side (one grandmother still has large angry bruises and a sore arm three days after the incident). Something is definitely rotten in the United States when patriotic grandmothers get arrested and jailed for exercising their Constitutional right to engage in peaceful, non-violent protest. It has been reported that the police were abusive to a disabled Iraq veteran arrested at the scene with the grannies and an Episcopal minister, both of whom were kept overnight in police custody. Among others arrested was Ann Wright, the former Army Reserves colonel and diplomat who resigned her post with the State Department in objection to the Iraq occupation. The grannies were kept in jail for about 8 hours before being released with a summons to appear before a court, ironically on October 17, the date of our arrest and jailing last year at Times Square. All their possessions were confiscated, including their shoelaces, during their incarceration, and they were denied food and drink except for one who was allowed to keep nuts and a hard-boiled egg she'd brought due to her low sugar condition. The women were forced to stand much of the time because there wasn't enough room on the one bench to seat them all. We grannies have been in the forefront of the movement to end the war in Iraq since it began, but Bush and his criminal gang are absolutely indifferent to the public will. Despite the courage and dedication of those participating in the marches and engaging in protests, our actions seem to be getting us nowhere. The troops are still mired in Iraq, and still dying, at a rate of 2 plus a day. Iraqis are dying in droves because of the chaos we've created. The last shreds of our global moral authority are vanishing as the world hates us more and more. What are we grandmothers going to have to do, for God's sake, to try and wake up America -- march naked through the streets? Not a very attractive thought, now that I think about it, but I bet we'd do it if we knew it would turn the tide and bring the troops home. Of course, we'd all have to quickly flee to the Galapogos Islands or some other equally remote hideaway in total embarrassment after exposing our aging flesh to the world. But, ANYthing to end this horrible occupation which has destroyed so many lives and sucked up all the good will we ever had throughout the world. The anti-war movement must get ever more creative and determined. New methods of protest must be developed. Larger numbers of people must be engaged. New leaders must emerge. Perhaps most importantly, the youth must be aroused to leave their insulated comfort zones (their video games, their rock concerts) and come out and speak against the Bush atrocities. I know that somewhere out there is a young person with the vision, the charisma, and the commitment to peace and justice to lead the new generation to end the occupation and the many assaults on our freedoms. Whoever you are, please let us see your face and hear your voice -- NOW....and let us old ladies finally retreat to our rocking chairs and our Bingo games knowing the world is now in safe hands.
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