Grandmothers Go to Jail for Peace

By Ann Shirazi, one of the Granny Jailbirds 18 and peace activist

As summer in New York waned and the days became cooler, and it was clear that the violence in Iraq was continuing unabated with the number of American and Iraqi deaths on the rise, Joan Wile, founder of Grandmothers Against the War, learned of a successful counter-recruitment action staged by Raging Grannies in Tucson, Arizona, and felt that a similar action here in New York could be effective. She sent out emails requesting volunteers who were interested in attempting to “enlist” at the Times Square Recruiting Center on the triangle at Broadway and 43rd Street to show up at noon on Monday, the 17th of October.

Grandmothers and crowd sing together:
“There’s No Business Like War Business!”
[More photos]

More than a dozen women, between the ages of 49 and 90, responded, as well as dozens of supporters. The women involved met several times to discuss details of the protest and probable arrest. The theme of the action was “Support the troops — bring them home NOW.” While not all of us have grandchildren of our own, we believe that all children, including those dying in this illegal, immoral “war,” are our children, and we who have lived long and fruitful lives are willing to take their place.

Norman Siegel, former head of the New York Civil Liberties Union, agreed to act as liaison with the NYPD to ensure more humane treatment during arrest, as a majority of the women were elderly and it was assumed they would have difficulty with mobility and handcuffing. The press was already waiting when we assembled across the street from the protest site where loyal members of Veterans for Peace held a large banner and gave out counter-recruitment flyers. By noon, the mood was festive, as scores of supporters from Code Pink, Peace Action, Radical Women, NION Education Committee, War Resisters League, the Tucson Raging Grannies, and others gathered, distributing homemade cookies and singing such parodies as “There’s No Business Like War Business.” The number of “enlistee grandmothers” had grown to 18.

Grandmothers begin reading from their official statement
[More photos]

Obviously, the soldiers at the recruitment center had been forewarned, because they locked the door as the grannies approached. Spotting a young soldier cringing behind his computer, 90 year old Marie Runyon banged on the door, chastising him for not letting us inside. We then read a statement of purpose, each of the 18 reading one sentence apiece. At that point, we managed (some of the grannies with considerable difficulty) to sit down on the ramp leading to the station door, and led the crowd in singing the Raging Grannies hymn, “God Help America” and chanting “We insist that we enlist.” After consulting with the police, Norman Siegel explained the consequences of the sit-in to our group, and the police warned us that failure to disperse would result in a “disorderly conduct” charge. When no one moved, the police began the arrests; one by one, they carefully helped us to our feet, as per their orders, and cuffed our hands behind our backs, checking to make sure that the plastic cuffs were not too tight. Followed by a large number of press people, we arrestees, trailed by hapless cops holding an assortment of canes and walkers, were led into two police vans, where we continued to sing and chant.

At Midtown North, a community corrections facility, we were minimally processed and placed two to a cell in the women’s section; those who were unable to climb the stairs were held on the ground floor. During our incarceration of 4-5 hours, there was a good deal of “good cop-bad cop” activity (e.g., arresting officer purchases water for “prisoners,” mean guard confiscates it), but morale was high with much laughter and chanting throughout the cell block. No food was offered despite the ages of the women. (In a brief reality check, an actual prisoner, a very hungry pregnant woman, was made to stand for an extended period of time waiting for an empty cell).

By 6PM, the last of the arrestees had been issued DATs and released, with a court date assigned of November 15. Norman Siegel will represent our group pro bono, and intends to plead us Not Guilty as Charged.

All who participated in the Granny protest agreed that the success of our mission far exceeded expectations, as validated by the resultant worldwide press and media coverage and positive feedback from citizens all over the globe.

What follows is a copy of the statement read prior to the arrests:

Photos and captions courtesty of John Bostrom

See Also:

• Joan Wile Receives BuzzFlash Wings of Justice Award
• Reviews of the Grandmothers Against the War Book
• Anti-War Grannies Challenge That Surge Is Working
• Discouraged Peace Grannies Ask, "Is There Any Hope?"
• Wednesday in the Park with Norman Siegel
• GAtW Articles on Other Websites
• Granny Jailbirds Wow Berlin
• MLK Day Speech at Holy Name Church, Manhattan
• “New York Granny Chicks” Slaying Audiences on the Peace Circuit
• Heck, No? Antiwar Voices Persist, Softly
• Grandmothers Against the War Hold Weekly Peace Vigils in New York City
• or, Return to the Grandmothers Against the War page
• or, Return to the Other Granny Groups page
• or, Return to the home page