A member of the Granny Peace Brigade joins the anti-war protest on the eighth anniversary of the Afghan war at Grand Central Station on Wednesday. (Natalie Gee/The Epoch Times)
One of busiest train stations in the world, Grand Central Station serves over 150,000 commuters daily and is known for its frenetic rush-hour traffic. Yet on Wednesday, time slowed down as protesters, waving potent signs, circulated peacefully around the station’s iconic brass clock sitting atop the information booth in the center of the main concourse.
Rush hour crowds stopped and took note as hurrying gave way to quiet moments. Some people took pictures and a few even joining the slow-moving group.
"There is a lot of support. Many people came up, others were not happy and said that we should have the war," said history teacher Geoff Johnson, 31, one of the event organizers.
A member of the Granny Peace Brigade joins the anti-war protest on the eighth anniversary of the Afghan war at Grand Central Station on Wednesday. (Natalie Gee/The Epoch Times)
Organized by the War Resister’s League, the motley crowd of protesters included the Granny Peace Brigade, Catholic Workers, Vets for Peace, the World Can’t Wait organization, and United for Peace. Reverend Billy Talen, the Green Party candidate for Mayor, also participated.
Most protesters carried pictures and boards with pointed slogans like “Bread not Bombs” and “The Audacity of War Crimes.”
The Raging Grannies and Their Daughters wore flower-decorated granny hats and carried signs reading “Troops Home Now!”
Perhaps the most succinct sign, written in the middle of photos of suffering Afghan women and children, said “ENOUGH!”
Johnson said that although the organizers had no permit for the protest, the roughly 100 police on hand didn’t stop the event. One protester was arrested.
