Grandmothers in Valentine's Day ProtestJacob Schneiderbyline‚ Feb. 15‚ 2006Hundreds of grandmothers converged on downtown Oakland’s Armed Forces Recruitment Center in a Valentine’s Day-themed protest against the war in Iraq Tuesday. As part of the event, which was organized by Grandmother’s Against the War, several dozen “grandmothers”—a group which actually included several men and younger women—attempted to enlist in the military. Organizers said that the purpose of the protest was to criticize both the recruitment of young soldiers and the continued American presence in Iraq. “We grandmothers have had long, full lives,” the grandmothers read from a statement. “Our young men and women deserve the same. We are prepared to take their place and by that action to help bring an end to this destructive occupation.” |