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MARCHES &
RALLIES & VIGILS
5th Anniversary of the Iraq War
March & Rally in Walnut Creek “A Surge
for Peace”
Saturday, March 15, 2008
4th Anniversary of the Iraq
War
March & Rally in San Francisco ”U.S. Out of Iraq Now!”
Sunday, March 18, 2007
Marching with GAW banners, our group of grandmothers passed out
leaflets, urging people to phone the congressional representatives and to
consider joining GAW (to younger folk we said, "Tell your
grandma."). We attracted a
lot of attention, all of it positive. It seemed as if everyone wanted to
take a picture of us (we were pleased to pose!).
Final point: this was a tremendously diverse march. The grandma
image is a great unifier; everyone has family.
Photos
Leaflet (English) (Spanish)
March & Rally in Walnut
Creek “Starve War Feed Peace”
Saturday, March 17,
2007
At
the march in Walnut Creek,
GAW sought to encourage people to call and write postcards to Senators,
congressional reps and presidential hopefuls. We also distributed leaflets with phone
numbers and addresses of congressional members.
The
Sunday SF Chronicle had a story
and a photo with GAW front and center and lots of photos on
the Chronicle’s website.
Photos
Leaflet (English) (Spanish)
Vigil with the New York
Grandmothers, 2006
On
October 4, 2006, one of us joined the New York Grandmothers Against the
War at their weekly Wednesday vigil on Fifth Avenue, in front of Rockefeller Center. Most impressive was the
number of tourists that the group reaches through their action. The linked photo shows the
indefatigable Joan Wile, New
York organizer extraordinaire, holding the
numerical sign.
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VISITS AND
LETTERS TO CONGRESSPEOPLE
Intent upon having our voices heard, we periodically have visited
the local offices of Speaker of the House, Nancy Pelosi, Senators Barbara
Boxer and Dianne Feinstein, and former Congresswoman Ellen Tauscher.
Besides sending postcards we have also written letters to our
congressional reps and to other elected representatives. Generally GAW has expressed its
position on various policies in these letters; occasionally we have even
thanked our representatives for their actions. (Letters)
GAW goes to Washington, DC with the Granny Peace
Brigade, January 2007
From January 17-January 19, 2007, four GAW members joined the Granny
Peace Brigade to lobby the Congress to end the occupation of Iraq
and to bring the troops home. Joan
Levinson aptly captures our experience in DC in an article published in
the Berkeley
Daily Planet.
Letter to Senators
and Congresspeople
Presidential
Candidates and their Positions on Iraq,
Iran, and Afghanistan
On December 22, 2007, GAW made available a lengthy fact sheet clarifying
the views of the U.S.
presidential
candidates on Iraq,
Iran and Afghanistan. Although GAW does not endorse
candidates, we thought that we would inform our community about the
candidates' views on issues of concern to us. (Fact sheet)
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SPEAKERS
Ground Military Drones
On
Saturday, June 12, 2010 at the Berkeley Public Library Grandmothers
Against the War hosted a Community Forum Drone Warfare: moral? ethical?
legal?
The U.S.'s
use of Military drones is increasing dramatically.
How many civilians is the
U.S.
killing?
How many new enemy
recruits are emerging as a result?
What are the implications
for this military strategy?
SPEAKERS:
Rita Maran, Ph.D. writes and lectures on
rule of law, torture, the
UN, international and women's human
rights, and U.S.
Government
policy and practice on human rights.
Rev. Michael
Yoshii is pastor of Buena
Vista United Methodist
Church in Alameda. He worked against the rounding
up of Muslims,
Arabs, and South Asians following the
events of 9/11 and helped
organize public support for military resister Lt. Ehren
Watada.
Yasmin Qureshi is
a human rights activist involved in social justice
movements in South Asia and Palestine.
She has presented workshops
at Stanford University
and De Anza College focusing on the Mumbai
attacks and the use of drones and war in Pakistan.
Flyer
Andrew Lyons: “Clearing Landmines in Afghanistan”
On January 22, 2010, Andrew Lyons of HALO USA, who has
served as a director of mine clearance in Afghanistan,
spoke at Books Inc. in Berkeley. Andrew
explained how his organization works with local deminers
to clear contaminated areas in a country in the midst of war.
Grandmothers Against the War hosted the talk to help
promote the clearance of the deadly remnants of decades of war in Afghanistan
that maim or kill an average of 80 people every month, hinder
agricultural production, trade, and access to water and schools.
A selection of recent books about Afghanistan
was available for sale. Books Inc.
donated a percentage of the sales to HALO USA.
Flyer
“Obama’s War” and a
discussion with Conn
Hallinan
On January 10, 2010, at the Berkeley Public
Library, Grandmothers Against the War showed the “spectacular and
unsettling” Frontline
documentary, “Obama’s
War.” Featuring veteran
correspondent Martin Smith, who traveled across Afghanistan and Pakistan
to provide an on-the-ground report of Obama’s strategy (prior to
the announcement of escalation), the documentary sparked a
thought-provoking discussion, led by Conn
Hallinan, an analyst for Foreign Policy In Focus, a member
of the Institute for Policy Studies, and a columnist for The Berkeley Daily Planet. Conn’s
speech about Afghanistan
to an enthusiastic audience convened by Grandmothers Against the War in
February 2009 can be found at audio Part1, Part 2,
Part
3, and Part 4.
.
A Discussion with Malalai Joya
On Sunday, Nov. 8, 2009 at the Northbrae Community
Church in Berkeley,
Grandmothers Against the War hosted a discussion with Malalai Joya, an Afghan politician who has
been called “'the bravest woman in Afghanistan.'”
As an elected member of the Afghanistan parliament, Joya publicly denounced the presence of warlords and
war criminals in the parliament.
Subsequently she was suspended from that institution on the
grounds that she had insulted fellow representatives. Her suspension is currently under appeal.
Joya has written a memoir, A
Woman Among Warlords. In her
presentation, Joya poignantly and passionately
described some of her political and personal experiences that are
featured in her memoir. She
also discussed how she perceived the long-term damage and destruction
occasioned by the U.S. invasion of Afghanistan.
Among
the endorsers of this event were the AAUW
Oakland Piedmont, the American Friends
Service Committee/SF, Berkeley/East Bay WILPF, Code Pink, the National Women’s Political Caucus
– Alameda North, Peace Action
West, Samina F. Sundas/American
Muslim Voice (org. for identification only), and the Wellstone Democratic Renewal Club.
See: http://www.malalaijoya.com/
Conn Hallinan, “Afghanistan: The Next Quagmire”
On Saturday, February 28, 2009, in Berkeley, Grandmothers Against the War sponsored a
talk on Afghanistan
by Conn Hallinan, an analyst for Foreign Policy In Focus, a member
of the Institute for Policy Studies, and a columnist for The Berkeley Daily Planet. In his presentation, "Afghanistan: The Next Quagmire," Hallinan
briefly reviewed Afghanistan’s
recent history and then placed U.S. policy towards the
region in an understandable context.
He clarified how events in Afghanistan
must be viewed regionally and how economic interests have shaped U.S. policy, particularly in relation to
the construction of an oil pipeline through Afghanistan. The event was
co-sponsored by the Social Justice Committee of the Berkeley Fellowship
of Unitarian Universalists.
Because the presentation and question and answer period generated
such enthusiasm, GAW is making this audio recording of the event
available.
(Link to audio Part1, Part 2,
Part
3, Part
4 and map of the event.)
Yalda
Asmatey, “Afghanistan
and the United States: The Next Four Years”
At a GAW-sponsored event on Saturday, November 15,
2008 at the Berkeley Public Library, Yalda Asmatey, an
Afghan-American PhD student at UC Berkeley, spoke on "Afghanistan
and the United States: The Next Four Years." A dynamic and
personable speaker, Yalda was born in Kabul and came to the U.S. as a refugee in the
early 1980s. She has been
returning to her homeland since 2002.
Yalda offered a brief history of Afghanistan, and, in the process, gave us
a framework with
which to analyze the current
conflict in Afghanistan
and the role of the U.S.
military. She ably conveyed the historical complexity of alliances among
various groups in Afghanistan
and attempted to convince a somewhat skeptical audience about the
necessity of the U.S.
remaining in Afghanistan
– this time to “get things right.” Her talk motivated a lively question
and answer period and reinforced GAW’s
belief in the need for more educational events on Afghanistan.
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LEAFLETING
"Go
get 'em, grannies," "You go for
it, girl," "Thank you for being here, for doing
this," are the responses to GAW
as we've leafleted on street corners, at farmers'
markets and on the streets in Oakland's Fruitvale neighborhood,
Old Oakland, El Cerrito and Berkeley. The leaflets, in English
and Spanish, have urged an end to the occupation in Iraq and the war in Afghanistan and the prevention of any
military intervention in Pakistan
or Iran. They have also listed other peace actions.
Desirous of activating folks in diverse communities where enlistments are
high, GAW has leafleted
periodically, particularly on days of historical importance: July
4, August 6 and Labor Day.
Income Tax Day “No Taxes for the
War” 2007
A few days before and on Income Tax Day, GAW
set up ironing boards, banners and posters in various locations and got
passers-by to sign “Put our tax dollars to better use”
postcards. GAW then mailed the
postcards to our congressional reps, Speaker of the House Pelosi,
Senators Reid and Feinstein and the presidential hopefuls. The postcards
asked our reps to "STOP funding the Iraq war! NO funds for an
attack on Iran!
Bring our troops home NOW!"
Postcard
Leaflet (English) (Spanish)
Income Tax Day “Who Will Pay The
Price?” 2006
GAW protested the continuing and
rising costs of the Iraq
war paid for by our income taxes at the Oakland, CA
Federal Building, the site of an IRS office and a post office. The
demonstrators then marched through downtown Oakland to another post office. Several
support groups, including Singing
for Peace and the Threshold
Choir joined the protest.
GAW also reached out nationwide
so that coordinated “grandmothers’” actions on April 17
took place in other U.S.
cities, including New York, Philadelphia, Detroit,
and Bellingham WA. That evening members of GAW also protested and leafleted at
a post office which was open for late returns.
Aside from the local Pacifica
radio station and a Chinese-language newspaper, the event attracted
little media
coverage—one photo of the group did appear in the Oakland Tribune. We concluded that
tax day protests are a relatively common phenomenon in the San Francisco
Bay Area.
Leaflet
Valentine’s Day 2007
A few days before Valentine's
Day, GAW set up ironing boards, balloons, banners and posters in
various
locations
and got passers-by to sign Valentine postcards that GAW then mailed to
our congressional
representatives,
Speaker of the House Pelosi, Senator Reid and the presidential hopefuls.
The Valentine
message to our reps was "Be My Valentine!
Bring the Troops Home Now!" Sadly, no one has responded
yet, either
to thank us for our cards or to consent to being our valentine and
bringing the troops home now.
Of
course, members of Congress who wanted to bring the troops home
immediately, didn't get our
valentines; they
just got our gratitude and thanks!
Photos
Addresses of Senators
and Congresspeople
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“LOVE GRANDMA” BOOK
Inspired by one woman’s urge to “write something to my
10-year-old granddaughter … to help her to live positively in the
world she must grow up in,” GAW launched the ‘Love, Grandma’ Letters
Project. Considering our age and experience — we’ve lived
through so many wars! — we decided we were
well qualified to pass onto younger generations the helpful lessons we
have learned. We gathered letters from like-minded individuals for
publication in a book.
Since November 2007, Love, Grandma: Activists Write,
is available as a paperback for $7.50. You can order the book here .
Through readings in libraries, senior centers and other public
places we have encouraged readers to write their own letters
to their grandchildren and share them with us.
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“TAKE
US INSTEAD” 2006
Grandmothers Against the War has held two demonstrations
at military recruitment centers, one in Oakland, California
on Valentine’s Day, February 14, 2006 and the other in the
suburban city of Pleasant
Hill, California on July 24, 2006. In both actions, the grandmothers
attempted to replace the young people currently serving in Iraq by
enlisting in the military. For both demonstrations, GAW
recruited support from existing organizations, circulated fliers to announce
the actions, contacted media sources, informed the local police and
recruiters about the intended actions, and leafleted during the
demonstrations. However, the two actions differed substantially.
Valentine’s Day in Oakland, CA
Hoping to coordinate actions across the U.S., GAW contacted
grandmothers’ and other peace organizations prior to
Valentine’s Day. Eventually, 13 grandmothers’ groups across
the nation held actions on Feb. 14.
Not all tried to enlist, but everyone focused on ending the
conflict in Iraq.
GAW’s demonstration in Oakland was a smashing success. Over
300 “grandmothers” were present, as were singers, chanters,
the “Mourning Mothers,” and many other groups, plus the
media: print, radio, TV. However, the recruiters weren’t present!
After meeting with the grandmothers prior to the action, the Oakland police
doubted that the grandmothers had been straightforward about their plans
Therefore the police persuaded the recruiters to close the center.
(Afterwards, the police apologized profusely for acting hastily and
stated that the grandmothers could return to the recruitment center at
any time. Of course, the center is now closed!) Reports about the action
appeared in the Oakland Tribune,
a local newspaper and on TV and radio.
Photos
Leaflet
Links to media coverage:
http://www.commondreams.org/headlines06/0216-01.htm
http://www.berkeleydailyplanet.com/article.cfm?issue=02-17-06&storyID=23439
http://www.beyondchron.org/news/index.php?itemid=2946
http://www.indybay.org/newsitems/2006/02/14/18024141.php
http://www.theleftcoaster.com/archives/006870.php
July 24 in Pleasant Hill, CA
Determined not to “preach to the choir,” GAW decided to have its next action
at a large recruiting center in a Bay Area suburb. Oakland had only one recruiting center
that anti-war activists frequently besieged. Pleasant Hill has recruiting offices
for the army, navy, and marines—none of which had ever faced an
anti-war group.
Working with the Mount
Diablo Peace and Justice Center, a local peace center, GAW prepared
for the action as they had in Oakland.
This time, however, the army and navy closed their offices — only
the marines remained open. The crowd was much smaller than at the Oakland
demonstration,
the media coverage much less and the weather much hotter!
However, the police issued citations for trespassing to 5
“grandmothers” who wouldn’t leave the office when the
marines requested they do so. Despite the fact that the 5 grandmothers
wanted their day in court, it was not to be, since the police failed to
file charges with the district attorney.
Photos
Leaflet
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OUTREACH
Meeting with Church Women
United
At the request of Sandra Schwartz, the
Peace Education Coordinator of AFSC
San Francisco, three GAW members attended a meeting of Church Women United in
San Francisco on March 7, 2009.
The topic of the meeting was “World Day of
Prayer.” We were warmly
greeted by the churchwomen who wanted to hear about our work for peace. During informal discussions at
lunchtime, a few of the churchwomen shared their experiences in thinking
about or working for peace.
Recruitment of New Members
Initially, the Berkeley
Daily Planet, a local newspaper published an article about the
group’s formation. A subsequent
editorial in the same newspaper helped bring in new members. Also, GAW’s signs, buttons and bumper stickers
have made us increasingly visible.
However, word of mouth and interviews on local radio shows have proven
indispensable in arousing interest, as have the group’s public actions and every leaflet we
circulate.
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