Grannies At The Recruiting Office

A s Valentine’s day neared, the group Raging Grannies called for grandmothers from the Bay Area to gather at the Oakland military recruiting office on Broadway at 21st. (The Valentine’s Day action was coordinated to take place in several cities across the U.S.) There they would enlist, en masse, to serve in Iraq and Afghanistan. “We are demonstrating our love for this country and its young people by enlisting in the U.S. military to replace the children and grandchildren too long deployed there,” the women pledged in an announcement. 

“This is not a show of support for [Bush’s] military action in Iraq; we are totally against it. Rather it is a Valentine’s Day gift to our children and grandchildren. We grandmothers have had long, full lives. Our young men and women deserve the same. We are prepared to take their place.” 

One of the volunteers was Pat Maginnis. For her it would be a re-enlistment because she’d already served three years in the U.S. Army in the early 1950s. Since her discharge she’s been a life-long activist for peace, women’s issues, and animal rights. A similar group of grandmothers attempted to enlist at a military recruiting center in New York’s Times Square last October—18 of them were arrested. 

On February 14 I went with others to picket while the grandmothers enlisted. There was a good turnout, over 300 people, most were elderly women. However, the recruiting personnel somehow failed to show up and open the doors. Disappointment swept through the ranks of the volunteers. Exciting military careers, delicious army food, battlefield glory—none of this would be theirs after all. Nevertheless, recovery was swift and a good energetic rally ensued. 

 We crowded around the empty recruiting office and sang: “Give Peace a Chance,” “When Every Woman,” “Dona Nobis Pacem,” and “Johnny I Hardly Knew You.” Then it was “Down by the Riverside,” followed by more songs. The rally filled the sidewalk and gradually expanded out into the street, taking up the outbound lanes of Broadway. Motorists in the inbound lane honked in support. The day was warm, and a soft, gentle California sun shined down on us as we sang: 

Oh, deep in my heart  
I do believe  
we shall overcome  
some day  

T he demonstration was sponsored by Women for Peace, Grandmothers Against the War, Grandmothers for Peace, NOW Oakland/East Bay, East Bay Progressive Democrats, Bay Area Women in Black, and the Women’s International League for Peace and Freedom.