Facing trial, Sonia Sanchez speaks of peace

Sonia Sanchez has urgent matters on her mind. The retired professor and renowned poet is at work on a new book, there are myriad business details one expects that a prominent writer must attend to: invitations to speak, requests for interviews, entreaties for advice and support from less-established writers. And then there is the trial for which she must prepare.

On Dec. 1, 2006, Sanchez and other members of the group Grannies for Peace, will go on trial at the Philadelphia Community Court on charges of "defiant trespass." The women were arrested June 28 at a downtown Philadelphia Armed Forces Recruiting Center where they refused to leave after they tried to enlist, but were rejected because of their age. Sanchez says that the women are saying to the recruiters, "Hey, take us. Don't take our children and our grandchildren!"

In this podcast, she talks about the trial, and why the need to work for peace is more urgent than ever. She advocates an immediate pullout from Iraq, greater cooperation with the United Nations, and greater emphasis on problems that threaten to destroy the planet, such as global warming.

"We're asking people to come from all over the country -- young, old, middle-aged -- to come to the courtroom in support of what we are talking about here."

The trial will be held at Philadelphia Community Court, at 1401 Arch Street, on the second floor, at 8:30 am.

The podcast is about 15 minutes long.


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