Archive for March, 2010

To Our Generous Supporters

Tuesday, March 30th, 2010

The Granny Peace Brigade is lucky to have so many supporters. We’ve always hoped that many of you agree with our values, even when you can’t always be with us in the streets or at our forums and counter-recruitment events. Now we know that lots of people are cheering us on because you have provided us with financial support.

As of this week, more than one hundred people have responded to our request for funds! We sent letters to around 400 people which means the rate of response is stellar – way above average for non-profit groups. Of course, we have a life sustaining goal – ending of war — so it stands to reason that others have supported us.

Gifts from new supporters numbered 19, or nearly 20% of the total, while the balance came from people who have supported us once, or twice, or more times over the last 5 years. The gifts came from as far as Hawaii. Besides New York, where 75% of our supporters live, residents of 12 other states [California, Florida, Illinois, Massachusetts, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, North Carolina, New Jersey, Nevada, Vermont and Virginia] were among our benefactors.

Our letter had encouraged everyone to give us an email address if you want to be kept informed about our activities and many of you did provide it. We also got notes of encouragement and advice, and expressions saying that the gift honors one of our members or someone else you know.  We appreciate all your wishes, and will try to live up to your faith in our efforts.  Most of all, of course, we wish for success in our primary goal – ending of war.

- Edith Cresmer
for the Granny Peace Brigade

Posted in Letters | No Comments »

Parent Teacher Conference Night Action – March 18, 2010

Sunday, March 28th, 2010

Being out on the streets, leafleting and providing information to passersby is never so pertinent and effective than on parent teacher conference night. The focus of the action on March 18, 2010, was to ensure that parents and students were aware of the need to sign and return Opt-Out forms to their high schools and to review non-military alternatives for students to reach their goals after graduation.

Thirty-five volunteers participated in the action and were present at 11 high schools throughout the city. Teams included a group from the Lower East Side Girls Club, Peace Action Staten Island at 2 high schools, and volunteers fluent in Spanish, an asset in outreach to many parents.

Volunteer feedback indicates that many high school administrators have implemented the NYC Chancellor’s Regulations, which mandate the implementation and oversight of an Opt-Out program in their schools.  But several teams reported that a large percent of parents were still unaware of the importance of signing and returning the form to the school.  It may be a case of non-communication between student and parent, but it does require follow up attention.

The Options for Life after High School handout went like hotcakes – parents and students were requesting a copy, as well as a couple of teens who were ‘considering’ the military and a JROTC cadet in uniform.  Bottom line, it is clear that when a teen has an opportunity for job training or financial aid for further education, the military choice is put into perspective.

Many volunteers noted that more students wanted to talk to them, ask questions and get information.  Some parents recognized volunteers from last fall.  Being at the schools, we are making an impression and more able to provide support and options to parents and students.

Military recruiters engage students early – all the better for future enlistment potential.  Counter recruitment activities are a foot in the door to present youth with crucial information that recruiters omit and to counter-balance the promises that recruiters make. It is imperative that we provide more non-military options and programs to assist teens after they graduate.  It is also germane that counter recruiters address truth in recruitment and the militarization of youth inside and outside of schools.

I was on a team with a new volunteer from LaGuardia Community College who had never done a street action before. Walking back to the subway after distributing all our flyers, she was so excited by the experience, the connection with parents, and the feeling of fulfillment.  “When is the next action?  Please call me again”. Hoping you will join us too.

Contact: grannypeace@gmail.com – codepinknyc@gmail.com

Thanks to all the volunteers who made this action so successful.

- Barbara Harris – Counter Recruitment Committee
- Photos: Bud Korotzer

Posted in Counter Recruitment, Grass Roots Action | No Comments »

The 7th Year Since The U.S. Invasion And Occupation Of Iraq

Monday, March 22nd, 2010

March 20, Saturday. I woke up at 8 to thunderous crashing noise, echoing in the canyons of buildings around our apartment in Manhattan.  My first thought was, “has someone already called the Police to complain that this is too early for construction noise on a Saturday??” My second thought was, “What if I were in Iraq or Afghanistan?? Status quo.”

At 1:00 PM today, next to the U.S. Army recruiting station in Times’ Square the Granny Peace  Brigade, as part of a coalition of Peace Groups observed the 7th year since the U.S. invasion and occupation of Iraq. We were joined by members of CodePink, Grandmothers Against the War, North Manhattan Neighbors for Peace & Justice, NYC War Resister’s League, NYC-UFPJ, Peace Action of NYS, the NY Metro Raging Grannies, and West Side Peace Action.

Our signs counted out the numbers of dead (and numbers of US. Taxpayer dollars) since March 2003.  We were chanting, “How do you measure the cost of war??” “How many?” “Too many!” “How much?” “Too much!!.”

The Raging Grannies were singing some fine songs, handing out their song sheets so that all of their allies and passersby could join in:

We, shall not pay for Endless Wars;
We, shall not pay for Endless Wars.
We’ll pay for jobs, and health and education,
Not for Endless Wars!
(words Pam Drake NY Metro Raging Grannies)

Our official speakers were NY City Councilwoman Gale  Brewer and Hugh Bruce of Veterans Against the War.

Brewer called out her own stats: the huge losses of city jobs in libraries, fire houses, and across the board diminishing safety and quality of life for us.

Hugh called on the President to end the futile US presence in Afghanistan, reminding us all that Alexander the Great had run into big obstacles there and it was time for the world to learn its lesson and give up trying to control that people. When Hugh had finished, I noticed a young man in fatigues.  At first I thought he was a boy in costume.  He was so young, so slight of build. As we began to talk, I learned he was for real.  He was 18.  He was on leave from duty in Afghanistan. He was glad to see us out there calling for an end to the war.  He said the Afghan people are turning against the military; they don’t want us there. He feels bad about the people he has killed. He must go back to active duty in a week or so; he’s just here with some buddies; he’s never seen Times’ Square before. He likes it. He wants to go to West Point when he’s finished his tour of duty; and after that he wants to be a senator. I say that we are there to ask that he can come home, go to West Point and be a senator. We need some good senators.

- Caroline Chinlund
- Photos: Caroline Chinlund & Eva-Lee Baird
for the Granny Peace Brigade

Posted in Counter Recruitment, Demonstrations, Grass Roots Action | No Comments »

Calling Congress To Stop The War In Afghanistan

Saturday, March 13th, 2010

This past week members of the Granny Peace Brigade along with many others called Congressional Representatives asking them to vote in favor of Kucinich’s resolution, H. Con Res. 248, requiring the House of Representatives to debate whether to continue the war in Afghanistan. We are pleased that although few of our NY Representatives signed on as original cosponsors, many of them voted for the resolution on Wednesday. We like to think our phone calls made a difference.


These young men proudly make their first phone calls to Congress.

Was it  a good idea force debate on the withdrawal proposal? We all knew it would be voted down by a large margin. And the vote was 356 to 65 (60 Democrats plus 5 Republicans). This was not what we wanted but the question was aired and we did want that. Also, a key member of the House was one of the pro-resolution Democrats.

Congressman David Obey (D., Wis.) is the Chairman of the House Appropriations Committee. He’s in charge of spending our money. For years he spent it on the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq without any resistance.  Until last October, Obey maintained that spending hundreds of billions of our dollars on wars was something he just had no choice about.

…Well, on Wednesday, Chairman Obey voted to end the war in Afghanistan.  Of course, the bill was expected to fail and failed.  The war did not actually end.  But Obey acted so as to end it.  He cannot then consistently take charge of funding its continuation, much less escalation, with a $33 billion supplemental.  -  David Swanson, After Downing Street -  Read more.

The next step is to put the brakes on the $33 billion supplemental. According to the March 11 New York Times, “Although the outcome was never in doubt, debate on the resolution written by Representative Dennis J Kucinich, Democrat of Ohio, offered a preview of Congressional consideration later this year of the administration’s request for money to pay for operations in Afghanistan.” Later this year means April or May.

It’s time to hit the streets. This past Thursday we held a Phone-A-Thon at one of our favorite spots, the plaza space near Brooklyn borough Hall. The message:

“Stop the wars by stopping the funding.”
“Vote NO on the $ 33 billion supplemental  for the troop buildup in Afghanistan.”


These women asked that the troops be brought home and the money spent on social services instead of on war.

Keep the pressure on Congress. Call soon. Call often. CodePink is selling a t-shirt with a wonderful quote from Grace Paley. “The Only Recognizable Feature Of Hope Is Action.”  This t-shirt is not sized for the likes of me and it’s not really for guys, but the slogan still fits. We can wear it in our hearts as we spread hope through action.

See you in the streets,

- Eva-Lee Baird
for the Granny Peace Brigade

Posted in Grass Roots Action | 3 Comments »

Turn Any Phone Into A Smart Phone – Use It To Call Congress

Saturday, March 6th, 2010

Dial 202-224-3121 and ask for your Senator or Representative by name. The Washington phone lines of the NY senators are often busy so we leave messages at local offices. Dialing locally should work for other Senators too. Get the numbers from their web sites.

Senator Schumer: New York City 212-486-4430;
Albany 518-431-4070; Long Island 631-753-0978
Senator Gillibrand: New York City 212-688-6262;
Albany 518-431-0120; Long Island 631-249-2825

Will you make seven phone calls this week? Let us know how any or all of them went at grannypeace@gmail.com.

1. Call one Senator. Ask him/her to vote no to  Obama’s $33 billion request for supplemental war funding.*

2. Call your other Senator. Ask him/her to vote no to  Obama’s $33 billion request for supplemental war funding.*

3. Call your Representative. Ask him/her to vote no to  Obama’s $33 billion request for supplemental war funding.*

4. Before Wednesday, March 10 call your Representative. Ask him/her to co-sponsor Kucinich’s resolution, H. Con Res. 248, requiring the House of Representatives to debate whether to continue the war in Afghanistan. It is scheduled to be debated next week. H. Con Res. 248 isn’t a proposed bill – it’s a resolution calling for debate, so  ask your Representative to co-sponsor and speak up at the debate.

5. Call your Representative and ask him/her to co-sponsor H.R.4650: To phase out the use of private military contractors. Sponsor: Janice D. Schakowsky,  [IL-9].

6, 7. Call each of your Senators and ask them to sign on as co-sponsors to S.3023: To phase out the use of private military contractors. Sponsor: Bernard Sanders,  [VT].

- Eva-Lee Baird
for the Granny Peace Brigade

*Hill To Weigh War Supplemental Next Month
Defense Daily, March 2, 2010, Volume 245, No. 39, pg. 2
By Emelie Rutherford

Congress is expected to start considering in mid-April President Barack Obama’s $33 billion request for supplemental war funding for the current fiscal year, which is expected to be approved without any major skirmishes.

Though Obama pledged to end the Bush administration practice of funding the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan through such emergency appropriations bills, he has requested the $33 billion FY ’10 supplemental to fund a buildup of troops in Afghanistan.

The House Appropriations Committee (HAC) is expected to kick off consideration of the measure with a markup session on or around April 15. That date falls on the week after a two-week congressional recess set to begin on March 27. Until then, the congressional defense committees will continue to be enmeshed in hearings on the Pentagon’s request for a $548.9 billion base budget and $159.3 billion in war funding for FY ’11, which begins Oct. 1.

Senate appropriators are also expected to take up the FY ’10 supplemental soon after the congressional recess.

Posted in Grass Roots Action, Legislative | 3 Comments »

Dear Sister Comrades!

Tuesday, March 2nd, 2010

I have been intending to thank you for the celebration of my launching  into the 72nd year of my life.

I have been without internet access for several days due supposedly, to the great storm of last week.  My access was regained late yesterday afternoon.  I was without continuous land-line phone service but, it was restored today.  Amazing…what can happen in NYC because of a snow-storm.

On my birthday, as many of you know, I was at Criminal Court with the Aetna 17.  Drenched to the bone, I came home to an I.V. drug party in my apartment building.  My friend, Teddy Pearlman whom many of you have met at Rockefeller Center Vigil or at the Time Square Recruitment Station, arrived home from a 6 day hospital stay with a birthday cake in hand.  Teddy has a PICC (peripherally inserted central catheter) for long-term (5 weeks) intravenous medication.  A nurse came to teach him how to give himself the I.V. meds.  I was there to provide ongoing support for him along with other friends. And, it was snowing to beat the band outside.  I shall never forget this b’day nor the days leading up to it.  Actually, I am still celebrating and being celebrated!.

Again, thank you so very much for making this time special.  You are a great bunch…wonderful friends!  And just remember, as Fred Friendly once said,  “Our job is not to make up anybody’s mind but to make the agony of decision-making so intense you can only escape by thinking.”

- Phyllis Cunningham
for the Granny Peace Brigade

Posted in Grass Roots Action | 2 Comments »