Adventures of a Raging Grannie


Penelope's Email is Live.Wire2@comcast.net

I think ya'll would have been proud of me today! I wore the chador Kim brought back from Afghanistan to a Peace Rally at one of the gates to Kirtland, in order to sing with the Raging Grannies.

Shortly after arriving a young Albuquerque cop asked me if I would remove the chador, contending that I was not allowed to wear it in the protest. We spoke for a bit, I kept asking him what law I had violated and what would happen to me if I refused to remove the chador. I told him that the chador to me was protected under the constitution as freedom of speech and religious expression. He kept contending that I was trying to hide my identity. I lifted the veil to show him my face, told him I was actually quite proud of my identity, but would continue to wear the chador as an expression of my solidarity with the one million Iraqi civilians who have been estimated to have been killed in the war. Then he asked me "Please, (was I) able to take off my "mask." I told him I appreciated his courtesy and was able, but no, I acknowledged his request, but unless he was threatening me with arrest, I would continue to wear the chador. Then I asked to speak with his supervising officer.

After going up to the podium to let the leaders of the demonstration know what was happening, being trailed by about 5 cops, I was "escorted" to their sergeant. I told him that I could not understand why I was doing anything illegal by wearing an item of religious clothing and advocating on behalf of innocent victims of the war in Iraq. I showed him my face also, and offered to show him my ID. Finally, he said, "Okay, show us your ID." So I did. I also requested to know the ordinance that prohibits people from being "masked" at demonstrations. He took down my telephone number and said they would contact me with that information.

I then was freed to return to the podium, dressed in the chador, where I informed the crowd on the PA about the dialogue with the police, and thanked them (the police) for being understanding. I got a rousing cheer and many thanks from people in the crowd.

Hmmmmm. I am thinking of getting Alaa (my Egyptian ex) to import a few chadors for the rest of the grannies! I had no clue it would be so effective (innocently bats lashes).

Post Edit: I meant gates of Kirtland (AFB) and the cop said I was NOT allowed to wear the chador in a protest. Gees...spell check missed 'em both! It was also kinda interesting that he asked me if I was "able" to remove it? Ha did he think I was born that way? I replied I was able, but wouldn't unless he was going to arrest me otherwise. The sergeant also asked me my religion -- though why that was relevant beats me -- and I responded like my daughter did at Cape Cod Hospital many years ago, Moslem-Druid. Only in America!!!

Penelope September 15, 2007


Two Sept. 15 demonstration updates:

1. From Jeanne:

Today’s demonstration at the Truman Gate of Kirtland Air Force Base was a definite example of how inappropriate police officers can be.

Early in the demonstration, as protesters stood peacefully on the sidewalk, the police walked horses through the crowd on the sidewalk. A police car drove up and down the street, the officer inside yelling at a few protesters who were standing on the curb to get up on the sidewalk. A police officer approached 3 women who were standing in a non-used turn lane (the gate has been locked shut there for years) and told them in a frightening and intimidating manner to step out of the turn lane. Once they were up on the curb, he maneuvered his horse so it would press against the chest of at least one of the women.

(See attached pictures for what occurs in the next 2 paragraphs.)

Within the first 40 minutes of the protest, a police officer went up and down the neighborhood streets, giving tickets to cars parked there. City vehicles and cars without bumper stickers remained unticketed, while cars with bumper stickers received tickets. The police supervisor told us this was because there was a 2-hour parking limit. No signs were posted to this effect, except around the park which is over two blocks away. A nonprotester down the street told us that his car had been parked on the street (closer to the park than the ticketed cars) since 8am (three hours previous to the start of the demonstration) and he had received no ticket. In fact, he told us, he parked there all day every day and was never ticketed.

A woman who was wearing a burka was approached by at least four police officers and was immediately surrounded by them. They told her that she was to take off her burka, that wearing it was a security risk. When the police officers were asked what law she had violated, one of them responded that she had not violated any law. Later, their supervisor (Sgt. Armendarez, badge number 467) said that there was a city ordinance that prohibited protesting in a mask. He insisted that she reveal herself to him and identify herself.

Many protesters were appalled at the actions of the police officers and approached the police to speak with them. The supervisor of the police stayed many yards behind the barricade at the Truman Gate and refused to speak with one of the organizers of the protest and two lawyers. Other police officers were sent into the crowd and could not avoid being approached by outraged people. Some of the comments made by police officers to members of the crowd:

“Shave your armpits and tell me later.” (to a woman)

“Take a bath...”

One protester was arrested at one point after trying to talk to a police officer. We are hearing that he was put in the back of a police vehicle and left to sit in the closed car, windows rolled up, in the sun, for an extended period of time.

As the protester was being arrested, one man stepped forward to videotape the arrest. Three police officers on horses approached at that point and stood between him and the arrest.

As the demonstration ended, one police car (car numbered G18) drove by and the police officer within called out “Go Bush!” on the police car’s speaker.

It appears that the Albuquerque Police Department is back in the business of intimidating free speech.

Indignant? Come to city council Monday night, 5pm, City Council Chambers. We will be there, calling for protection of freedom of speech.

or – Contact Mayor Martin Chavez: 768-3000, (email: MartinChavez@cabq.gov)


2. Another update from Bob on the Sept. 15 demonstration:

About 150-200 protesters showed up at Kirtland AFB this morning and were having great response from passers by but the city police department had sent out the Emergency Response Team as front line responders who immediately started harassing and pushing around the demonstrators.

One man was eventually arrested for knocking over a police orange cone and he was kept for about an hour or more in a locked up police car (windows rolled up, parked in the sun).

The police rode horses through the group of demonstrators and gave many harassing and threatening commands to demonstrators. We are hearing that one police man told one person to take a bath, one to shave her armpits and call back in the morning.

One woman who had lived in Egypt a number of years wore a burka in solidarity with the women of Iraq and was immediately set up on by four SWAT dressed officers and two horseback officers. After much confrontation the police said if she identified herself to them they would not do anything. One other officer then said she had broken no law in wearing a burka. The police were out of control.

The police were leaving as we cleaned up. One bullhorn in one passing police car was turned on and someone said, "GO BUSH!".

Local organizers had spent many years confronting the police over their terrorist violations of the right of dissent. Supposedly after four years they had said they would work with us. In recent years they have, but this event marked a turning point backwards. Most people in the demonstration felt the police were deliberately trying to provoke the demonstrators with a show of officers on mounted horses and a large line of police cars right behind us. In past years they have kept these forces out of sight as part of our agreement to work with them. Today was different – the police refused to identify the Sgt in charge and put parking tickets on cars with political bumper stickers. We have parked in these locations for years with no tickets.

The local community was planning on attending a city council meeting this coming Monday night to support a resolution being introduced to call for a resending of the war authoritarian. So in addition to that, local democracy activists will be taking to city council against the terror violations of our rights by the city police force.

I didn't know ALL this that had happened before I arrived. Sheesh! Got Bail?

Penelope September 19, 2007







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