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Mother’s Day Proclamation

Wednesday, May 5th, 2010

Arise, then, women of this day!

Arise, all women who have hearts,
Whether our baptism be of water or of tears!

Say firmly:
“We will not have great questions decided by irrelevant agencies,
Our husbands will not come to us, reeking with carnage, for caresses and applause.
Our sons shall not be taken from us to unlearn
All that we have been able to teach them of charity, mercy and patience.
We, the women of one country, will be too tender of those of another country
To allow our sons to be trained to injure theirs.”

From the bosom of the devastated Earth a voice goes up with our own.
It says: “Disarm! Disarm! The sword of murder is not the balance of justice.”
Blood does not wipe out dishonor, nor violence indicate possession.
As men have often forsaken the plough and the anvil at the summons of war,
Let women now leave all that may be left of home for a great and earnest day of counsel.

Let them meet first, as women, to bewail and commemorate the dead.
Let them solemnly take counsel with each other as to the means
Whereby the great human family can live in peace,
Each bearing after his own time the sacred impress, not of Caesar,
But of God.

In the name of womanhood and humanity, I earnestly ask
That a general congress of women without limit of nationality
May be appointed and held at someplace deemed most convenient
And at the earliest period consistent with its objects,
To promote the alliance of the different nationalities,
The amicable settlement of international questions,
The great and general interests of peace.

- Julia Ward Howe, 1870

Posted in Grass Roots Action | 1 Comment »

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 »

Name that War – Operation New Dawn

Saturday, February 20th, 2010

Hold on to your hats! According to the BBC:

US rebrands military campaign in Iraq
“The US military operation in Iraq is to be renamed Operation New Dawn later this year, according to a defence department memo…. A copy of the memo signed by US defence chief Robert Gates was obtained by ABC news on Thursday. (read more)

Take a deep breath –  After Downing Street has a response to this blatantly manipulative piece of pr from the Obama administration. After Downing Street has started a contest: Obama Calls War on Iraq “A New Dawn” — What Do You Call It?

My entry is “Pissing Blood on the Grand Chessboard.”

Okay, okay, that’s too damned esoteric but it’s all the No Bases Committee’s fault. You are the gals that put together the Close U.S. Military Bases in the Pacific teach in, and had Joe Gerson as a speaker. He stood right up in front of us and said, “A classic book that really everybody in the room should read is Zbigniew Brezezinski’s the ‘Grand Chessboard’” Hear him for yourself in the first 12 seconds of our YouTube video “Close U.S. Military Bases in the Pacific.” I took his advice to heart and haven’t been the same since.

You can enter the contest too. I’m sure you can come up with something better than “Pissing Blood on the Grand Chessboard.”
Go to the After Downing Street Name That War page.

You will need to set up a user account, which is easy.

If you don’t want to set up an account you can write your new name for Operation New Dawn as a comment to this post. I will be happy to enter it in the contest in your name.

- Eva-Lee Baird
For the Granny Peace Brigade

Posted in Grass Roots Action | 1 Comment »

RETIRE G.I. JOE – ALL WAR TOYS MUST GO

Thursday, February 18th, 2010

Toys should be fun for children and foster the development of life skills, including problem solving. There are many toys that can satisfy our children and grandchildren’s desire for excitement and adventure other than war toys that provoke fighting and winning by means of violence. We are in favor of fantasy and delight and against the militarization of our young people. For this reason the GPB began a campaign against war toys last year. The Toy Industry Association Fair, held in New York this February provided us with additional opportunity to address this concern.


Photo: Phyllis Cunningham

The currently marketed G.I. Joe, manufactured by Hasbro is the archetype of war toys.

Hasbro was nominated for awards in two different categories at the Toy Industry Association awards banquet on Saturday evening at Pier 60, Chelsea Piers in NYC. The Granny Peace Brigade previously had written to Brian Goldner, CEO of Hasbro, requesting a meeting to discuss our concerns about G.I. Joe and war toys but had not received a reply. We, along with supporters including members of the Raging Grannies, went to Pier 60 to send a message: RETIRE G.I. JOE!

Hasbro Has Got To Know – G.I. Joe Must Go YouTube video

Initially, at the entrance to Pier 60, we held banners, sang, and distributed flyers to let the arriving attendees know we are troubled by the manufacture and distribution of war toys. In time, we marched through the Pier 60 garage in an attempt to get closer to the entrance of the banquet hall. This provided attendees greater exposure to our message as they disembarked from taxis and limousines to enter the gala! We were happy to be in, out of the wind and cold.


Photo: Phyllis Cunningham

Were we asked to leave? You bet! Several times and by several different people. “This is private property!” Who owns the property? “The owners” of course. Members discussed our right to be there and the rest of us kept on singing, “Hasbro’s got to know G.I. Joe must go.” (download songs sheets from the Granny Peace Brigade “Songs” page.

Eventually the police showed up but we continued to sing and negotiate our space. Finally, when most of the attendees had already arrived, we slowly moved to the entrance of Pier 60…singing and chanting along the way. We continued to display our banners and sing while standing on the sidewalk adjacent to the pier entrance. A gentleman, who we were told was a supervisor of the area, commanded us to move across the street as “…this sidewalk becomes private property after sundown…from sundown to sunup it is private property.” We were to understand that it is only public during daylight. You can imagine how we related to that. The police asked us to move so that they could leave. We complied and moved across the street with our banners unfurled.

The following Monday, we went to the Toy Fair at the Jacob Javits Center to again get our message out.


Photos: Phyllis Cunningham

With banners and singing, members distributed flyers to attendees and passers-by. We had an opportunity to talk with attendees about war toys and how they may affect children: desensitization to fighting, violence, war and killing. There were many interesting conversations and much positive feedback concerning our toy campaign. We also heard, “I love G.I. Joe!” on occasion.

Please write to Brian Goldner and tell him to retire G.I. Joe.
Brian Goldner, President and CEO
Hasbro, Inc.
1027 Newport Avenue
Pawtucket, RI 02862

- Phyllis Cunningham
for the Granny Peace Brigade

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

Toy Fair Request – Retire G.I. Joe

Tuesday, February 16th, 2010

On February 13th the Toy Industry Association revealed their 2010 toy picks at their 10th annual “Toy of the Year Awards” ceremony. Because kids don’t get loving care from these folks, we decided to take our message to them at the Chelsea Piers. Not one single taxi, limo or stretch limo could pass without reading RETIRE GI JOE – ALL WAR TOYS MUST GO


Granny, but it’s cold outside. Read our blue lips, G.I. Joe Must Go!


Champion banner handlers: Molly, Joe, Paula and Nydia with Pat


The Granny Peace Brigade and Raging Grannies come from near and far, Manhattan, Coney Island, and Queens to send their message to Hasbro and other toy manufacturers.  Edith, Caroline, Mercy, Betty, Lillian and Corinne and Molly!  wayyy over on the right!


Betty comes out into the cold with Caroline to sing to Hasbro, “No More War Toys.”


That’s Shirley Littman from Chelsea for Peace and the Raging Grannies! Talking to Joan P. and Carol and bringing us Raging Grannies song sheets so we can serenade the Toy Awards people. Shirley queries why we aren’t going inside to the entrance of the gala.


Inside, through the parking garage we go!


Ever Onward – We march toward the restaurant to bring the message ‘War is Not a Game’ closer to the toy fair guests.


Is that the guy from the restaurant? Telling us we have to go? But we’re not done yet!


He really means it. So do we. With the entrance to gala in the background, we negotiate the right to remain.


The Granny Peace Brigade stays put in the garage outside the restaurant where the Toy Show Awards dinner is taking place.


Security! We’re being attacked by Grannies with songs and funny hats!! Get that pregnant security woman in here with the walkie-talkie!


Amazing Bev Rice engages the cops, very polite, as we keep singing!


After leaving the garage to stand on sidewalk outside to Pier 60, we were told by police to move across the street as the adjacent sidewalk “becomes private property after sundown.”  Huh? The cops tell us to go stand in the bike path. We move. What else becomes private property after sundown?

Watch it on YouTube:  Hasbro Has Got To Know – G.I. Joe Must Go

Photos: Phyllis Cunningham
Captions: Mercy Van Vlack with Phyllis Cunningham, Eva-Lee Baird, Nydia Leaf and Barbara Harris

Posted in Counter Recruitment, Demonstrations, Grass Roots Action, Toys and Games | 32 Comments »

The YES WE CAN Phone-A-Thon

Friday, February 5th, 2010

Thursday, February 4th  – Port Authority Bus Terminal NYC


Nydia encouraged this young man to call. I was honored when he used my phone to leave a message asking Senator Schumer to vote no on future war funding. The twinkle in his eye as he completed the call was special too. In the background Caroline is talking to Carla from Chelsea who was a great addition to the gang.- Eva-Lee Baird


This young man was encouraged by his friend in the photo above
to make a call. -Nydia Leaf


And he did exactly that with Joan Pleune looking on.


These women were passing through for a day in the city. They were so happy to see us and encouraged to call on the spot.  They write to their representatives, but thought this action was wonderful. They were persistent in getting through to Senator Menedez and made 2 successful calls. - Barbara Harris


I’m assisting two young Bronx college students identify their Congressional and City Council Representatives using the “Directory of Elected Officials” published by the  League of Women Voters . - Phyllis Cunningham


Edith Cresmer and Eva-Lee Baird, two troublemakers in front of the police sign encouraging Free Speech.


Myron Johnson, manager, in his “house” (Port Authority) demanding that grannies “close shop.” - Phyllis Cunningham


GET YOUR FREE SPEECH PERMIT HERE!*

This is the Administrative Office in the Bus Terminal and anyone who wants to set up a table or give out literature needs to get a permit here. The permits, called “Expressive Activity Directed at the Public” permits, must be applied for during four hours of the day and can be submitted for two week periods; they must be applied for not less than 36 hours nor more than seven days prior to the beginning date. 13 indoor and 5 outdoor locations are designated, each of which has different rules regarding the number of persons, whether tables can be used and the space within which you are required to remain, such as no more than 5 feet from the wall against which you are located.**

Unfortunately for us Granny Peace Brigade phone-o-thoners, we are used to roaming in greater spaces, so we were told to leave.  - Edith Cresmer

* Monday-Friday 8:30-10:30AM, 1:30-3:30PM — only.
** Got that?

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