A newly formed branch of the Minutemen, joined by other anti-immigration groups, are targeting San Francisco Peninsula and South Bay cities bringing their message to the streets. What they didn't count on was this: at least three times in the month of May so far, a group of middle aged and elderly woman called the Raging Grannies with signature flowered bonnets have sounded the alarm to local community activists to react quickly in response. Calling on peace and immigrant rights groups to counter demonstrate on short notice, the Peninsula Raging Grannies Action League set up a quick response team to get the word out that, "our street corners ARE our communities; our communities will NOT be divided along lines of immigrant vs. citizen."

Amongst the organizations that have responded by sending participants to the Raging Grannies' counter-protests are youth groups such as Lucha (Community College Latino students), Maiz (young Latino activists), and Revolutionary Youth (a multi-racial group working for an end to the Iraq War and for immigrant rights). Veterans for Peace members show up in fatigues and the largest peace group in the San Jose area, South Bay Mobilization, contributes signs saying "No a la Guerra: Contra Irak, Contra Iran, Contra los Immigrantes". The Raging Grannies sing songs in Spanish and English they have written to honor immigrant labor and other contributions to America.

May 12 in Campbell: Read More | Photos: 1 | 2 | 3 | 4

Report from San Mateo and Redwood city rallies against Minutemen of May 3 and 5, 2007 | Labor Day 2006 "Clean Up the Hate" response to anti-immigrant demonstration (San Jose) | Raging Grannies