a little red hen: HARLEM RAINBOW...Found

I located the rainbow once again. It's here to symbolize a new energy, the initial effort of Harlem Grandmothers Agains the War. As a link in a nationwide protest on Tax Day, Harlem Grandmothers today, April 17, joined their peers all over the country to raise their collective voices against the cost of the military, costs that give lower importance to the needs for children, families, neigbhborhoods. Standing in front of the IRS Office on 125th Street, the women, young people, Veterans for Peace, chanted, "Listen to your grandma, Stop the war!" Then we crossed the street to the Army Recruiting Office. It was hard to miss us!

Bill Perkins, former NYC Councilman, and Vinie Burrows, well known actress spearheaded the group. Hundreds of people passing by stopped and joined the protest vigil. Many new grandmothers signed up to join future actions.

Judy Lear and I held the Gray Panthers banner. Community activists from West and East Harlem added their voices. Newspapers, college reporters, radio, and TV converged on the event. Italian radio interviewed Joan Wile, founder of the Grandmothers agains the War vigil two years ago.

Susy Sohawen, a Harlem grandmother, collected the names of vigilers who were ready to join the Harlem Grandmothers to plan their next vigil. She had more than 50 within the hour; she's in this picture with Bill Perkins as he reflects on a very successful and peaceful protest. A group went on downtown to the Main General Post Office near Penn Station later in the afternoon. They would leaflet taxpayers hoping to be get returns in on time.

It was an extremely busy day for all Grandmothers Against the War, a week that includes the trial--Thursday, April 20, in criminal court--of the 18 grandmothers arrested in October. A number of them are in these pictures; they continue to raise their voices to call for an END to the war in Iraq.

August 2010