Granny Peace Brigade Philadelphia

Marlena Santoyo went to the Petraeus Hearings with Code Pink. Each woman wore a black shroud and had painted her face white face. Each carried a “baby” with blood on it. Each woman had blood on her hands. They had simple signs with a flap on them so the sign could read either “Endless War” or “End This War.” Maureen Dowd mentioned them in her column.

March 19th marks the end of the 5th year of the war in Iraq and occupation of that country. We will be marking that date along with groups all across the USA. We want - we need - you to be there to show that you care deeply. Pick the times that best fit your schedule and be with us!

Event #1 - Tuesday evening, March 18 at 7:00 we held a Teach Out entitled "The Iraq Recession: the Cost of the War. The event is cosponsored by Granny Peace Brigade Philadelphia, the Community College of Philadelphia, and United for Peace and Justice-Delaware Valley Network. The event will take place on the campus of the College which is between 16 and 17th and Spring Garden and Callowhill. The building we will be in is Bonnell bldg BG16 and we will be on the First Floor.   There will be signs.
    Join us as we learn together about the many aspects involved in the cost of the war and see how we can educate ourselves to understand the depth of the issues.

We drew on the book,"The Three Trillion Dollar War:The True Cost of the Iraq Conflict"�, by Joseph Stieglitz and Linda Bilmes, and other materials for the teach out.    The program includes speakers and interactive small group discussions to prepare participants/activists to hold similar discussions in schools, churches, and other gathering places in their own communities. This, and future Teach-Outs, are free and open to the public.

Event #2 On Wednesday, March 19th, 2008:   "America, cleanup your act---five years of war in Iraq"

GRANNY PEACE BRIGADE MARKs FIVE YEARS OF THE HIGH COST OF WAR
                    ---IN DEATHS, DOLLARS, AND DESTRUCTION
    Members of the Granny Peace Brigade Philadelphia, and other Peace activists, gather at the Clothespin, at 15th and Market Streets, from 11:30 am to 1:30 pm to remind people of the high price America has paid for the war---in deaths, dollars, and destruction--- and to circulate petitions calling for an end to the war.
    To acknowledge these costs, and call for America to "clean up your act"�, the Grannies uang a clothes line near the Clothespin to wash out Americaâ€™s dirty laundry, i.e., the constitution shredded and stained, Iraq tattered and torn, civil liberties down the drain, a stain on our honor. They circulated petitions calling on Presidential candidates to end the war and restore our democratic principles.
For additional information, contact Helen Evelev, 215-351-2225
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Also in PHILADELPHIA:
Brandywine & Granny's vigil for 4000:
The U.S. war dead count reached 4,000 (www.icasualties.org) on Easter Sunday 2008. On Monday March 24th, we held a vigil at 5:00PM at the west side of Phila. City Hall, 15th & Market Street. Again, we lit a candle for peace and tolled a bell for all the war dead, to mourn, saying with one voice:
Not Another Death, Not Another Dollar!

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Trip to Washington DC:

Marlena Santoyo and Jean Haskell traveled to Washington DC. They read the postcards Grannies and others had written to Nancy Pelosi in front of the Capital building on the evening of September 10 and in Nancy Pelosi's office on September 11th.

They stayed overnight at the Code Pink house near the Union Train Station. The whole house is focused on activism. There are 6-8 bedrooms with 2-3 beds in each room. It is very well organized and clean. Breakfast items are available in the morning. They ask that you make a contribution.

Also highly recommended is Busboys and Poets (14th and V Street), a restaurant, bar, and bookstore with an open mike.

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A Procession for Peace: June 28, 2007
Anniversary of Granny Arrest at Military Recruitment Center

June 28 was the one year anniversary of 11 Philadelphia Grannies arrest as we went to enlist
so our Grandchildren would not go to Iraq. We took part in a Procession for Peace, spoke peace to power and read the names of Iraqis & Americans killed. Let's not forget we were in the company and give our thanks to those whom we support and who support our actions to end the war and abuse of power in the Bush Administration and all the abuses of power that entails. We are blessed to be in the company of those who have served in Iraq, lost a son or daughter and ordinary folks, Grannies & Grandchildren who believe we must not wait for others. We need to assume responsibility commensurate with our size in the movement. We may see ourselves as small, but inside the anti-occupation movement, we play a large role. This is a privilege that we cannot waste.

From a NY Granny who traveled to be in solidarity with us:
Yesterday's one-year anniversary event in Philadelphia brought back a lot of memories. The crowd of supporters which included a Delaware Valley chapter of Veterans for Peace was a good size - at least 75, with a German TV crew and some other media, the weather was the same (hot), and our peace procession went first to the recruiting center (closed) where we read the names of the 168 dead from Philadelphia. The mood was friendly but somber. Mike Berg spoke and read names, looking thinner and more drawn than last year. I hoped to speak to him later but when I looked for him he was gone.
Then the names were read of the 1000 US who died in the year from June 28,'06 to '07 as well as an equal number of Iraqi who've lost their lives.
There aren't many pedestrians in Philly but cars honked and drivers reached out for flyers, and everyone was pleased that the NY GPB was represented and supporting this action. We walked around the City Hall and back to the center and on to the Friends House. And then a large group of us had dinner.

Saturday, May 12, 2007: WILPF gives their Dove Award to Granny Peace Brigade Philadelphia at their Annual Luncheon.

Friday, May 18, 2007: Babette Josephs presents the Miriam Seidler Award for Peace to the Grannies at the Philadelphia Senior Center, Broad and Lombard Sts.

Sunday, April 15, 2007: Grannie co-sponsor the Legs Against Arms walk/race. This event invited people to join together to address the epidemic of violence that affects our city. Grannies Zonnie Moberg and Joan Lukas ran and won medals in their age groups. Other Grannies walked.

Saturday, April 21, 2007: The Delaware County Chapter of WILPF honor the Granny Peace Brigade Philadelphia at their Annual Luncheon