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MARCHES &
RALLIES & VIGILS
Ground the Drones
Monthly Protest at Beale Air Force Base
This was our third monthly protest. As usual, we headed up in the
wee hours of the morning from El
Cerrito, a two-hour drive. We were pleased to find a half
dozen activists waiting there when we arrived. Our numbers are growing. There
were five Grandmothers Against the War, one Grandfather for Peace, Veterans
for Peace from Sacramento
and Eastbay, Military Families Speak Out, Peace Center of Nevada County,
and six CodePink, probably over 25 throughout
the day. We also had
one of the huge Mourning Mother Puppets. There was no shortage of
signage:
WE SUPPORT U.S. TROOPS BY OPPOSING
ENDLESS WAR
FREE BRADLEY
MANNING, WHISTLE BLOWING IS NOT A CRIME!
THANK YOU WIKILEAKS
COURAGETORESIST.ORG
QUESTION AUTHORITY
KILL THE DRONES, NOT INNOCENT
PEOPLE, SUPPORT PEACE
DRONE ATTACKS: NO SECURITY
GRANDMOTHERS
AGAINST THE WAR
VETERANS FOR PEACE
MOTHERS
SAY NO WAR
JUST SAY NO TO THE VIOLENCE OF
WAR
Morning Commute
Our increased numbers made us lots more visible this
time. Our brightly colored banners and signs, along with Jeffrey and his
guitar made it a rather festive morning. A Ch. 40 local TV news
reporter/cameraman was there for periodic live streaming throughout
the am, with interviews with 4 activists, including a first press
interview for Martha Hubert. It seems that our success was making the
guards a bit nervous. When
a couple of us refused to move from the road divider at the front gate,
our optimum spot to pass out flyers, one of two female military personal
gave more abrasive orders, raising her voice and threatening to detain
us. When Toby and
Cynthia Morse refused to “obey”, because we felt confident
from prior actions that military did not have jurisdiction over us while
we stood near but off airforce base property,
the one airwoman became more agitated and threatened handcuffs. Quickly, a contracted security guard, came and pulled the two airwomen away. Several CHP and Sheriff’s
cars appeared shortly after. They
were pleasant enough, though they did move the “free speech”
boundary further from the gate, now declaring that base boundary was
about 50 feet further from the gate and that we had to stand on the other
side of the speed bump. We
had a long discussion with CHP and suspected they were making up
“new” boundaries for the base, and infringing on our free
speech rights. We plan
to investigate the actual boundaries before our next protest, thanks to
the urging of Robert, a lawyer who was participating in our action. We hope to challenge this
arbitrary imposition with a possible organized direct action/CD protest
next time. We still
managed to hand out quite a few flyers and greet the soldiers on their
way in. Many waved to
us and occasionally flashed peace signs in support.
Mid Day
The bay area activists had a great meeting and respite
from the cold at a coffee house in historic downtown Marysville. We had a spirited conversation
about what we were doing and discussed how we can make this campaign and
future military base protests more effective. It was a pleasure to be
joined by GAW. Later, some of us rested. Others
went for a drive and short hike near Sutter Butte, a beautiful area
teaming with wildlife and scenic ranches. This time nature was a welcome
reprieve from our protest activities. We were recharged for the
afternoon AFB commute.
Afternoon
Commute
We (Bay Area Code Pink and Grandmothers Against the
War) were joined by Carol Ann from the Nevada City
Peace Center
and several other local activists for the afternoon
commute. Grace from CodePInk enlivened
our protest with recorded music and enthusiasm. Thankfully, it was much
warmer in the afternoon. Many
of the soldiers seemed quite happy to be on their way out of the base.
Normally we stage our protest at the West Gate entry to the base. For the afternoon commute, a few
of us went to the North Gate. The atmosphere there is quite different
from the West Gate. There is higher security and a less friendly
atmosphere. We surmised that this might be the entrance for the
higher-ranking personnel doing top security type of work (possibly with
the Beale's Global Hawk surveillance drone?). There was no place to park
near that gate and the base surrounds both sides
of the road as you approach the gate entrance. So, activists stood near the
intersecting hwy. There were attempts to restrict where we
stood, even though we were out of site of the gate entrance, but we were
still very successful at being visible with banners, and passing out
flyers as soldiers exited the base. We noted there were very few
cars entering the base from that side, which supports the suspicion that
the personnel are higher ranking officers, working days and living off
base at night. Back
at the West Gate, there was much more waving and exchanges of peace signs
than in the morning. We
were probably pretty entertaining with our colorful expressions of
peaceful coexistence. Peace signs and enthusiastic waving given in return
to ours is evidence that many of the soldiers appreciated our being
there. We’ll be back! We
hope you will too!
Special thanks to all of the peace activists that
helped make this day so successful!!!!
Martha, Kayla, and Toby, Bay Area CodePink
Photos
NEWS: There was no online posting
of Channel 40 live coverage, but we did get this online article:
Massive
Protest to Target Killer Military Drones in Beale AFB
NEWS: Press Release January 27, 2011
Contact:
Jim Haber, Coordinator, Nevada
Desert Experience
415 828 2506
Kathy Kelly 773-619-2418
Creech 14 Anti-drone protesters vow to continue
activism
following guilty verdict in Las
Vegas courtroom
Las Vegas—On Thursday, January 27th, activists charged with
trespass, along with their supporters, filled Judge Jansen’s
courtroom to hear his verdict regarding their April, 2009 protest at
Creech Air Force Base Crews at Creech control the drones used in these
expanding wars, killing civilians in remote controlled assassination
attacks.
In a 20-page written decision, Judge William Jansen found the fourteen
guilty of trespass as charged, ruling that their defense did not meet the
legal requirement of immanence for acquittal based on necessity.
Before being sentenced, twelve made statements calling for an end to the
drone bombings and for nonviolent ways of resolving international
conflict. The Creech 14 were arrested during an April 2009
demonstration at Creech Air Force Base in Indian Springs, Nevada,
protesting the remote piloting of armed killer drones from Creech in the
wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.
All were sentenced to time served.
Although Judge Jansen had insisted that he would only hear evidence
related to a relatively minor trespass charge, the case was
groundbreaking because expert witness testimony was admitted and because
Judge Jansen opted to take the case under advisement, write a written decision,
and take three to four months to do so.
The Creech 14 are: Fr. John Dear; Dennis Duvall; Renee Espeland; Judy Homanich;
Kathy Kelly; Fr. Steve Kelly; Mariah Klusmire;
Brad Lyttle;
Libby Pappalardo; Sr. Megan Rice; Brian
Terrell; Eve Tetaz; Fr. Louie Vitale; and Fr.
Jerry Zawada.
Available for interviews are: Jim Haber (number above)
Kathy Kelly 773-619-2418 and John Dear, 505-629-2029
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Veterans for Peace-Bay Area
“Stop These Wars”
Dec. 16, 2010 12 noon, New Federal
Building, 7th & Mission
Sts., San Francisco
Veterans' groups -- primarily veterans of
our current wars in Iraq
and
Afghanistan, but including some from WWII
and Vietnam
-- were the key
organizers
of a demonstration of some hundreds at the new Federal
Building
at 7th and Mission in San Francisco on December 16,
2010.
The
demonstration, intended to coincide with and support a much larger
Gathering
in our nation's capitol, called for an end to the immoral, devastating
havoc our country inflicts on the suffering people of Iraq and Afghanistan.
The
Veterans were also intent on pointing out the growing death toll of
our
own troops and their ongoing need for many of them, if and when
they return, for lifetime care for their physical and
mental health.
Joining
the Veterans were other peace groups, including Grandmothers
Against
the War. We called for bringing
our troops home and transferring
the
billions wasted on death and destruction to the extraordinary unmet
social needs at home. Some of us protested by lying down in
front of the
doors
of the Federal
Building to
emphasize to our government our deep
resolve that peace must come.
Among the 23 arrested were Grandmothers
Ying
Lee, Ruth Maguire, and Carolyn Scarr.
Cited for "Obstruction", a
hearing for all the arrestees is scheduled for February 17,
2011.
Photos
Media
coverage
More
photos
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
Photojournalist David Bacon:
"Protecting
Oil Companies and Attacking Unions --
US Policy in Iraq and the US"
At the invitation of Grandmothers Against the War and
US Labor Against the War, about 100 people gathered at La Peña Cultural Center on November 7, 2010 to hear
labor journalist and photographer David Bacon discuss
“Protecting Oil Companies and Attacking Unions - US Policy in
Iraq.”
According to Bacon, the story
of the US banning
Iraqi labor unions and opening the door to foreign investment in the
natural resources of Iraq
is another example of the Obama administration’s continuation of
Bush policies. In fact, Iraq has been the victim of Western
imperialism for centuries, and the struggle for the rights of the Iraqi people
continues today as the US
invites in private companies and threatens union officials with arrest if
they try to organize.
For an in-depth version of Bacon’s report click
here.
View David Bacon’s photos here.
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?
Video:
"Administration Must Disclose
Information About Illegal Drones Use"
Responding to a request from Grandmothers
Against the War, the ACLU produced a video
explaining
why
using drones to kill individuals with suspected links to terrorists
is illegal.
Click
here to see this video.
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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