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Raging Grannies Arrested At Recruiting Center
by Emrys
Wednesday, Jul. 13, 2005 at 1:41 PM
Army recruiters not humored by "room full of elderly ladies"
Several Raging Grannies, along with an Indymedia journalist (myself), were arrested for trespassing Wednesday after they entered an Army recruiting office and attempted to enlist.
The Grannies were hoping the recruiters would have shown more humor with the activists. Instead, Sgt. Richardson called Tucson police and had everyone cited.
The mood before the action was light and joyous. Protestors have been showing up in front of the military recruiting offices on Speedway each Wednesday morning since the pledge of resistance began over 3 years ago.
Nearly 20 people lined the sidewalk this morning with signs and American flags with peace symbols. Most motorists honked and waived at the rally, which delights Granny Pat Birnie.
“They can hear the honks inside,” she said, hinting towards the recruiters’ offices.
At 9:00 am, the Grannies split off from the rally and made a plan of action. They warmed up their voices with “God Help America,” then headed for the Army’s office.
The Grannies stood in front of the office and sang more songs, prompting Army Sgt. Richardson to close the door to his office. After a few minutes, they began to enter the Army’s office, stating that they wished to enlist. The recruiters tried to turn them away, saying that protestors are not allowed on their property, but the willful Grannies made their way in.
After spending a few minutes reading a prepared statement (see below) and singing a few more songs, the Sergeant told them that they must leave, and that charges were going to be pressed. Both recruiters seemed uncomfortable and were unwilling to confront the elderly choir, keeping their backs turned and pretending to do office work. While on the phone, Sgt. Richardson said he had a "room full of elderly ladies."
“They were afraid of us,” said Elizabeth Richards shortly after leaving the office. “They had to be looking at papers or on the phone.” Richards has been a Raging Granny for 2 years.
After everyone had left the building and filed back to the sidewalk, TPD officer S. Morken arrived and asked Sgt. Richardson to point out everyone who was in his office, including myself (two other journalists were not cited.)
According to Lt. Col. Hickins, a Battalion Commander from Phoenix, the charges were pressed by the landlord of the building, not the Army itself. He declined to give any other information about the incident.
No one was expecting to be arrested for the action. “This is the only contingency we hadn’t planned on,” Birnie said afterwards.
Birnie said that the Raging Grannies have already contacted Mayor Walkup’s office about the incident, but he was out of town for the day.
“My sense is that it’s such an absurd charge that the judg-e will excuse it,” she said.
The Tucson Raging Grannies is a project of the Tucson Branch of the Women’s International League for Peace and Freedom. The Grannies sing their messages by creating new words to familiar tunes, to convey their angst against federal policies that undermine our national security, environmental sustainability, and first amendment rights (and to add humor to our protests). They have performed at peace rallies and other local events since forming three years ago. The Raging Grannies was first initiated by Canadian activists 19 years ago. The idea has spread throughout the world, and can be traced on the internet. The Tucson WILPF Grannies is included in the local branch web site: www.wilpftucson.org Contact Margaret Pecoraro 885-3908 or Pat Birnie 908-9269