As part of a national day of protest, Eugene residents staged a vigil to oppose the war in Iraq and the president’s proposed troop increase. From noon to 2 p.m. Saturday, an estimated 40 people gathered by the Ferry Street Bridge, holding signs that read “purge the surge” and “no more war”.
Peace vigils were held across the nation Saturday in protest of President Bush’s decision to send 21,500 more troops to Iraq. The largest gathering took place in Washington D.C. where, according to National Public Radio reports, tens of thousands gathered in front of the U.S. Capitol building to urge Congress to block funding for Bush’s troop increase .
In Eugene, community members and veterans turned out for the vigil. Rick Ventury and his wife, Carla, held a large white sign saying, “Tell Congress: Stop Funding the War”. The couple attended the peace rally in hopes that Congress will use the “power of the purse” to stop the troop increases, they said.
Suzanne Swift, a veteran of the Iraq War, attended the event to show her support for the withdrawal of fellow U.S. troops. After she’d returned home to Eugene, she refused to return when she was called up for redeployment, saying that she’d been repeatedly sexually harassed. As part of a plea bargain that allows her to remain in the military for five years, a military court sentenced her to 30 days imprisonment in a military brig at Fort Lewis, Wash. She was released Jan. 7.
During the event, a large peace dove flew overhead with the help of its creator, Karen Stingle, and friends Jean Murphy and Paul Harrison. Constructed of grapevines, chicken wire, duct tape and white cloth, the bird first debuted in February of 2003 at a protest in Seattle and has since been to Portland, the Eugene Federal Building and at various other vigils and rallies around town. While sympathetic to the anti-war effort, Stingle is not a member of any specific organization; she merely wants to show her support for the larger cause.
The event remained peaceful with the exception of a three-car accident, which occurred toward the end of the vigil. The driver of an older-model Mercedes Benz reportedly stopped to talk with several participants, blocking one of the two lanes approaching the bridge. Another car struck the Mercedes, causing a chain-reaction collision. A policeman, two fire trucks and an ambulance reported to the scene, but no life-threatening injuries were sustained by those involved in the accident.
The Associated Press contributed to this report
Check out DailyEmerald.com for a photo slideshow of the vigil.
Peace vigil against troop increase held in Eugene
Daily Emerald
January 28, 2007
John Givot
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