Grannies rage against recruitment

Hundreds of grandmothers and their supporters gathered at noon Feb. 14 for a Valentine’s Day demonstration in front of Oakland’s U.S. Army Recruiting Station, blocking the sidewalk and spilling out into the street. They planned to offer themselves for induction, to replace soldiers now serving in Iraq. Though their intentions were foiled when the recruiters failed to appear, the group marked the occasion with songs, choral readings, chants and a spirited picketline. Organizers said similar demonstrations took place at 13 other locations around the country.