Thursday night, the Eugene-based anti-war group Justice Not War held a candlelight vigil to honor the 1,000 soldiers who have died in Iraq since hostilities began in March 2003.
More than 300 people held candles and took part in a 45-minute silent vigil to honor the fallen soldiers outside the Eugene Federal Courthouse on East 7th Avenue and Pearl Street. Many held small signs that read “1,000 dead” and “no end in sight.”
Eugene resident Bob Haskett said he felt the war had been a “mistake and a disaster” since it began. Haskett said he felt the United States should never have invaded Iraq.

“There are a lot of us who think war isn’t the right thing to do,” said Haskett. “Not in this case and maybe not in any case.”
The vigil provoked little reaction from traffic passing on the street. A few cars honked and a driver yelled “Bush forever” out the window of a passing vehicle.
After the 45 minutes of silence were over, the crowd gathered near the intersection to sing “Blowing in the Wind” together, before dispersing.
The crowd ranged in age from young children to the elderly and included several students. Many of these people learned of the vigil from www.moveon.org.

— Ben Brown