Grannies are raging against war

By Erin O'Connor

Staff Writer

WEST SPRINGFIELD - Ellen Graves of West Springfield will not have to serve time on charges faced in Greenfield District Court on April 3. Graves and four other women of the Raging Grannies were charged with trespassing at the U.S. Army recruiting office at 31 Federal St. in Greenfield on Nov. 15.

"We rage against discrimination, against recruitment, against the war, against poverty," Graves said to Reminder Publications.

"This is a Raging Granny action," Paki Wieland, a member of the Raging Grannies who was arrested, said. "We were raging against the war and raging against the military. We are a gaggle of grannies. We mostly sing at rallies, places we are invited and some places not invited."

According to Wieland, the District Attorney dropped the charges from criminal to civil last week.

"We had a bench trial," Wieland said and added that they were seeking a jury trail to make the issue more open.

Wieland said the women were "found without finding."

"We were not found guilty or not guilty," she said.

Wieland said the women were told they would not have a record and not have to pay fines. They were found to be responsible for their actions but not guilty of a crime. According to Wieland, the recruiting office was open when they entered and they were arrested before the office was closed.

"When you protest the war and the illegalities of the war, the deaths of over 3,000 service people, and hundreds of thousands of Iraqis what can you do? We thought that going to the service office would point out lies. Young people think joining the army would get them money for education and a career. It was the right place to be to really highlight how citizens need to do more," she said.

"This is a really fantastic group of older women who have been involved with work for social change for many years," Graves said about the Grannies. The group was started in Vancouver, Canada in the 1990's. "I think a lot of older women are joining in this," she added. "When you are out there against this war, there are so many people that tend to tell you that you are standing against a country when you are not standing against a country you are standing against a war."

Graves said there are 40 members in Western Massachusetts of the Grannies. More info can be found at www.wilpftucson.org/Grannies.html

"The justice system worked really well," Graves said. "The judge listened to each one of us. We wanted to bring the war more to trial. It is necessary for us to stop the war because the war is an immoral and illegal war. More people are understanding and realizing that what we are trying to do is bring the troops home. We are very supportive of the troops but bring them home safe," she said.

Graves said she would support legislation that would give a date of cutoff of the war.

"We laugh and sing," Graves said. "We sing for justice and piece.

It gives me a very strong voice. I could stand on a corner forever and hold a sign for the Raging Grannies. It is a powerful voice because we are elders and people stop and they listen to us."