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Making waves ~~~ Grannies' anti racism message
resonates in the Park.
By mickielynn on 2015-05-12 13:27:13
On a beautiful spring afternoon at 1 PM in the afternoon, during the Saturday of the annual Albany Tulip Fest, Grannies for
Peace gathered in the shade of a large old tree to commence our 8th annual vigil in the Park. Grannies started by leafleting
at the Tulip Fest in 2006. In May of 2007 we began our Standing Vigils. This year our theme was "Racism Breaks Grannies'
Hearts. Our visual props included two large banners reading BLACK LIVES MATTER and END RACISM NOW! Most
of us were dressed in black, white, or some combination of the two colors. We also wore some attractive, highly visible neck
signs clearly communicating our theme. We planned a silent vigil (well mostly silent since some of us hadn't seen each other
for quite a while). Once we had gathered and formed our semi-circle we prepared to stand in silent unity. [caption
id="attachment_6978" align="aligncenter" width="430"]
Barb and Pat, with our neck signs prominently displayed, photo by Mabel Leon[/caption] Our goal was to stand silently for
one hour, leaflet people walking by, then spread out in pairs after the silent vigil to leaflet people strolling through the park.
In past years we handed out Mother's Day flowers with our leaflets. This year we felt that the subject matter was better
suited to educational stickers. We chose one that said "End Racism Now." [caption id="attachment_ 6980"
align="aligncenter" width="600"]
Bl ifs ta 5 A world of possibilities for all
children! Photo by Mabel Leon[/caption] [caption id="attachment_7005" align="alignright" width="319"]
We want a better, more just, safer world for all our children. Photo by
Mabel Leon[/caption] The half hour of leafleting was equally exciting. Here’s Mabel’s description:
The leafleting was an amazing experience-people wanted the flyers and the stickers and wanted their photos
taken-it was an exhilarating experience. They expressed gratitude for what we were doing... In fact when we
walked back to the car, young people on their stoops thanked us and wanted flyers and stickers. Amazing. One
woman stopped us on the street and had her young child give us hugs. I have never had an experience quite like
this.
~~ Happy to receive leaflets and
stickers during the 2-2:30 PM leafleting[/caption] [caption id="attachment_6981" align="alignleft" width="206"]
Siam Wearing stickers and a big smile! Photo by Mabel Leon[/caption] To prepare ourselves we
held email conversations, and face to face planning meetings where we explored the best ways for us to serve as allies to
people of color who were suffering through racial injustice, discriminatory treatment, mass incarceration, violence, torture
and even death at the hands of the criminal justice system. We knew that we couldn't speak for the mothers, grandmothers,
families and communities who were suffering. But we could support them with our own heartfelt understanding that All
Lives Matter and that (like the international " Standing Women" movement that has also been taking place on Mother's Day
weekend since 2007) we were standing with people all over the world “envisioning a world that is alive with hope, love
and possibility for every child.” Here's a sample of our brief but powerful leaflet. It seemed very good to be standing in
Washington Park; deeply grounded, connected to spirit, and to the sun warmed, breeze-kissed Earth. Shaded by a
beautiful old tree, feeling our message amplified by the other loving people in our circle. We had a hint that our signs were
powerful. Even walking through the park with just one Racism Breaks Grannies’ Hearts neck sign, people came up to the
wearer(s) and asked to take a picture with them. We knew that our message was well received. But we never expected what
happened after we gathered in the circle. Basically it was a tsunami of gratitude, good will, and a strong desire to join us -
physically in the circle - and by taking pictures and selfies with and in front of us. No doubt Facebook and other sharing
media exploded with photos & selfies of people standing with or near us. In that sense we created our own media. I would
say that this was a true “happening.” Exhilarating and spontaneous. It was interesting to me that it was mainly younger
people who came up and hugged us, high-fived us, shook our hands, took photos with us, and thanked us for being there.
Seemed like Millennials, and some adults a bit older than that. Plus some older people closer to our ages. And lots of
families with young children. The band (not half bad) playing nearby led to the phenomenon of in place Grannie dancing,
while silently holding banners. That turned out to (at least for me) deepen the connection to spirit, to the Earth, and to the
energy of all of the people around us. It was a joyful experience of doing the right thing, for the right reasons and making
important person to person connections. It seemed a hopeful sign that so many people resonated with the messages that we
were wearing and displaying. Perhaps some real change to the system of structural racism is really possible at this time in
United States history. Now to let Mabel's photos tell the rest of the story, except for a few more words at the end of this
article. [caption id="attachment_6970" align="aligncenter" width="600"]
oe Py
Early at our vigil with both
large banners, Photo by Mabel Leon[/caption] [caption id="attachment_6971" align="alignleft" width="600"]
GRANNIES
FOR PEACE
Grannies for Peace banner
and broken hearts signs. Photo by Mabel Leon|/caption] [caption id="attachment_6972" align="alignright" width="600"]
width="600"]
Matter banner, early in the vigil.
Photo by Mae Leon[/caption]
Black Lives
[caption id="attachment 6994" align="alignright" width="399"]
rE
4 BREAKS
GRANNIES’
HEARTS
Teri with one of Kim's neck signs. Photo by Mabel
Leon[/caption] [caption id="attachment_6991" align="alignleft" width="423"]
Sue seated with sign, photo by Mabel Leon[/caption]
[caption id="attachme
7
Sue and young visitors to the
circle later in the vigil. Photo by Mabel Leon.[/caption] [caption id="attachment_6996" align="alignright" width="600"]
Families matter, I matter.
More visitors piling on.[/caption] [caption id="attachment_6999" align="alignleft" width="600"]
Per? n oe i 7 » - e.
on t “a
: Later vigil with two more
visitors[/caption] [caption id="attachment_7000" align="aligncenter" width="600"]
Beautiful young women with
leaflets. Photo b aption id="attachment_7001" align="alignright" width="600"]
. Family wearing stickers.
Photo by Mabel Leon[/caption] [caption id="attachment_7002" align="alignleft" width="600"]
=4 Group with leaflets and
ht" width="600"]
stickers. Photo by Mabel Leon[/caption] [caption id="attachment 7003" align="alignrig
a
i } J Father and daughter at the
tulips. Photo by Mabel Leon[/caption] [caption id="attachment_7004" align="alignright" width="600"]
