The National Network Opposing the Militarization of Youth (NNOMY)

    https://nnomypeace.net/barbaraharris

 The steering committee and staff of The National Network Opposing the Militarization of Youth wish to send our condolences to the family, friends, and activist collaborators of Barbara G Harris on her recent passing after a long illness in New York City. Barbara served as a valuable member of the NNOMY Steering Committee and provided informed guidance for our network's projects and campaigns since her joining our organizing committee in 2014 as a representative of the Granny Peace Brigade of New York City. 
NNOMY Steering Committee and staff

My own story of Barbara was visiting the Manhattan apartment of her and her husband, Gerald, on a visit to see family in Brooklyn. Beyond our kind reception for a visit in their dining room, where we shared an afternoon refreshment and conversation, was a small room that was Barbara's space that was a kind of history in pictures and memorabilia representing her 50 plus years of activism for peace, woman's rights, and the environment. She explained some of the things on the walls to my wife, Sandra, and I felt Barbara's history and commitment to activism from her school years through adulthood. It was a special place for me to share that likely few have experienced and it stood as a humane and personal reflection upon her. Barbara was a rare example of an activist and advocate in NYC schools countering the deceptive military recruiter narrative of the benefits of joining into war and doing the important work of youth demilitarization.

Below are a series of excerpts, and links to read the rest, of articles about her activism in our schools reaching out to youth to promote with them a future for peace and not a personal legacy of war.
Gary Ghirardi - NNOMY Communications Staff 

Barbara Harris discussing ways to educate parents about their right to keep information on their children from the military. Credit...Yana Paskova for The New York Times

Barbara Harris and "counter-recruitment" in NYC

The New York Times ran a story today about Barbara Harris, 71, of CODEPINK NYC, "a retired teacher and longtime peace advocate ... on a personal crusade to block recruiters for the United States military from contacting New York City high school students."

She'll be out at a New York City high school tonight -- other volunteers will be at 52 other schools -- at Parent Teacher Conference night, talking with parents about how they can "opt-out" from having the school send their children's private information to the military under a small provision of No Child Left Behind.

“You give them the information, you see them change their minds,” she said. “They know their kids are vulnerable. They say: ‘They’re calling my baby and I don’t want them to speak to my child. What should I do?’ ”

Barbara is amazing -- so intelligent, strong, organized and kind. She has a heart of gold and has made this cause a top priority in her life. What do you think of recruiters in schools?
Posted by CODEPINK Staff - 23 October 2008 - https://www.codepink.org/barbara_harris_and_counter_recruitment_in_nyc

Why Counter-Recruitment?

On a series of chilly evenings in November 2014, Barbara Harris, the counter-recruitment coordinator for the New York City chapters of Code Pink and Granny Peace Brigade, braved the cold to share a sidewalk with other group members, mostly women in their 50s and 60s. At one high school in Staten Island, she was also joined by what she described as “apprentice activists”: students from the school’s sociology class. “It was their first time doing a street action,” Barbara later recalled, “and they were effective in making a difference by adding their voice to the conversation.” It was “parent-teacher conference” night at the school, and Barbara and her friends were there to provide information to parents about non-military options for their children and to pass out flyers like Questions to Ask and Points to Consider Before You Enlist. While the venue did not encourage much interaction with parents, many of whom were in a rush to get inside, there were some highlights. “I met with a mother,” Barbara later recalled, “who was thankful for that flyer and noted that the questions posed and answers provided were very pertinent.” She told Barbara, “Few kids know what enlistment really means. I want to show this to a few boys I know.”

Like many activists, Barbara Harris initially came to counter-recruitment out of anger over the Iraq War. A retired New York City public school teacher currently involved with a number of organizations, Barbara has more than 50 years’ experience in progressive activism. In the past she campaigned to end the war in Vietnam, stop nuclear disarmament, and to shut down Indian Point (a nuclear power plant 38 miles north of New York City). Through her involvement with nuclear energy issues, she came into the orbit of Code Pink. Recently retired and with more free time on her hands, Barbara’s participation deepened as the Bush administration made moves to invade Iraq. During her anti-war activism in 2004 and 2005, she experienced a turning point.

"I just had a realization that the lies the government told us about getting into the war were the same lies that recruiters were telling kids to get them to enlist. And I stepped back and said, this is really important because the wars will continue forever as long as they keep getting these kids in."

Read More
Scott Harding & Seth Kershner - Chapter 5: Counter-Recruitment and the Campaign to Demilitarize Public Schools 

Counter Recruiting on Parent Night

Members of the Granny Peace Brigade and CodePink explain that the "No Child Left Behind" act requires schools to send students' contact information to the military. Students can opt out and we tell them how.

Granny Peace Brigade: Parent Teacher Conference Night – November 5, 2014, New York City