Atlanta Grandmothers for Peace officially began with our non-violent civil disobedience on March 17, 2008.Today, we continue working to end U.S. military occupation abroad and against the exploitation of our nation’s youth at home.See below to learn about our civil disobedience, watch a video of the action, and read about our continuing activism.To connect with us, phone 404-522-4500 or email atlantagrannies4peace@yahoo.com.If you want to make a contribution, write checks to Atlanta Grandmothers for Peace and send them to Atlanta Grandmothers for Peace, P.O. Box 33713, Decatur, GA30033.
OUR CIVIL DISOBEDIENCE:
Monday, March 17, with the help of over 40 supporters, ten Atlanta Grandmothers for Peace carried out an act of non-violent civil disobedience in Atlanta, Georgia.Modeled on a similar earlier action by New York Grandmothers Against the War, our civil disobedience was part of nation-wide protests marking the 5th anniversary of the March 19, 2003, U.S. invasion of Iraq—actions by Grandmothers for Peace in 20 cities and by young and old in every state.We Atlanta Grandmothers entered the U.S. Army Recruiting Station on Ponce de Leon Avenue at 9:30 am, engaged the recruiters in conversation, and asked to enlist in order to take the place of young soldiers.When our offer was turned down, we refused to leave the property.We were arrested for criminal trespass at 10:30 am, taken to the Fulton County Jail for processing, and released 12 hours later on our own recognizance.
Atlanta Grandmothers took this action in order to focus additional attention on the unacceptable human and economic cost of the military occupation, both in the U.S. and Iraq.We believe U.S. soldiers are being sent to kill and be killed in an illegal and immoral war and occupation.As grandmothers, we have a unique opportunity and responsibility to act on behalf of children.While not all of us have biological grandchildren, we consider all young people, including Iraqis and U.S. soldiers, to be our grandchildren.We began as a diverse group of women committed to on-going work toward a just foreign policy. Ranging in age from 57 to 80, with a total of 26 grandchildren, the ten women who were arrested came from across metro Atlanta—Kennesaw in Cobb County, Roswell and Atlanta in Fulton County, Decatur in DeKalb County, and Norcross and Snellville in Gwinnett County.
Here is some of the media coverage of our March 17 arrests:
YouTube video by Judy Conder of Artemis Productions--with film shot at the Recruiting Station http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fUvo0BLhCT8 Article by Matthew Cardinale, Atlanta Progressive News, who went into the Recruiting Station with the Grandmothers:
Atlanta Grandmothers is now a larger group and will continue working for peace and justice, for an end to U.S. military occupation abroad, and against the exploitation of our nation’s youth at home.Although FultonCounty authorities dropped the charges against us, eliminating the opportunity to publicize the government’s lies and mistreatment of youth in a public trial, other women are joining with us to continue our work.In addition to considering further civil disobedience and joining in anti-war actions, the Grandmothers will focus on educating others about the injustices of our military recruitment system and reach out to young people with alternatives to military enlistment.
The following excerpts from our media statement used in bird-dogging pro-war candidates in the 2008 campaign describes our focus on our concern about the young people of the U.S. and of Iraq:
Grandmothers call for leaders who will protect children, care for veterans, end the U.S. occupation of Iraq, and stop an attack on Iran.
Children, the youth of the U.S. and Iraq, are the greatest victims of the illegal U.S. invasion of Iraq and now the U.S. occupation of that country.Unbelievably, some elected leaders are now promoting a U.S. attack on Iran.We ask our elected leaders and those who are campaigning to become our leaders: What will you do to protect children, care for veterans, end the occupation of Iraq, and stop an attack on Iran?
Military recruitment practices misrepresent Army life in order to attract young people.False promises, giveaways, a video game called America’s Army, and fully-equipped Humvees in school yards manipulate our youth.For example, the Army’s video game turns killing and being killed into an adventure where no one really dies.The Army predicts that hundreds of soldiers are recruited with this video which is given away free by recruiters and can be downloaded from the internet. Chalmers Johnson, The Sorrows of Empire, pp. 97-99.
U.S. military policies violate international standards.International agreementsunder the United Nations state that recruitment directed at children under 18 can take place only if parents or guardians give permission.However, recruiters and instructors promote the military and actively recruit in classrooms and lunchrooms of our public schools. The Army’s own Recruiting Handbook instructs recruiters to approach students as early as possible and definitely before the senior year of high school.ACLU www.aclu.org
The lack of health care for U.S. military veterans is unacceptable.Numbers of U.S. deaths and injuries only begin to tell the story: 4,000+ U.S. military deaths; 30,000+ life-changing injuries in Iraq alone.Roughly 1 in 5 veterans of Iraq and Afghanistan suffers from PTSD or major depression and 19% suffer from brain injuries.Nearly 3 million disabled veterans need health care costing an estimated $30 billion.Neither funds nor personnel exist to meet this overwhelming challenge.Most tragically, 5 active-duty soldiers attempt suicide each day.At least 115 active-duty soldiers committed suicide in 2007, the highest annual rate on record. An estimated 1 million Iraqis have been killed due to the 2003 U.S. invasion, with 4 million Iraqis forced from their homes--in a country of just over 27 million people. CNN www.cnn.comRand Corporation www.rand.org
Grandmothers and women and men of all ages have told our leaders to end the U.S. occupation of Iraq.Over 60% of Americans believe it was wrong to invade Iraq, disagree with present war policy, and want a time-table for withdrawal in 2009. The human and financial cost is unacceptable. The U.S. invasion has caused an estimated 1 million deaths (1 million Iraqis; 4,000+ U.S.); 4 million Iraqis have been forced from their homes--in a country of just over 27 million people.$1 trillion has been spent on death and destruction, while human needs go unmet.$720 million every day is going for Iraq—an amount that would pay for the healthcare of 424,000 children and for 35,000 4-year college scholarships!2008 Polls: USA Today/Gallup; Associated Press-Ipsos, CNN/Opinion Research Corp.Joseph Stiglitz The Three Trillion Dollar War; American Friends Service Committee www.afsc.org
We must stop a U.S. attack on Iran.Our national security will be best protected by a commitment to diplomacy, not to the use of force; therefore, we call on candidates to reject two resolutions in Congress.House Concurrent Resolution 362 calls for a blockade of Iran which cannot be implemented without force and is internationally understood as an act of war.Senate Resolution 580, calling for sanctions and the prevention of Iran’s importation of refined petroleum products, also threatens the use of force.Friends Committee on National Legislationwww.fcnl.org
SAVE THE CHILDREN!
Joan Wileis the founder of Grandmothers Against the War and has been devoted to it since 2003. She is also an award-winning singer/songwriter with an extensive background in recording studios and cabarets. She has written six musicals, four of which were produced off and off-off Broadway. Her work has appeared in the New York Times, and on www.michaelmoore.com. She attended the University of Chicago, and is the mother of two children, and grandmother of five. Visit her at www.grandmothersforpeace.org.
