US grannies on trial for anti-war protest

NEW YORK (AFP) - The trial opened in New York of 18 grandmothers arrested for disorderly conduct after they sought to enlist in the US Army as a protest against the war in Iraq.

The women, whose ages range from 50 to 91, have all entered not guilty pleas and some said they would ignore any court-imposed penalty if found guilty.

"Coming to this damn court is nothing compared to what is happening to people in Iraq," said Marie Runyon, 91.

The grandmothers, all members of the "Granny Peace Brigade" were arrested in October during a protest outside a military recruiting station in Times Square.

They were charged on two counts of disorderly conduct, for blocking the recruiting station door and refusing to comply with a police order.

"We should be praising these grandmothers, not prosecuting them," said noted civil rights lawyer Norman Siegel, who was defending the women in court.

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