March 17, 2003 Candlelight vigil protests war By LEAH ETLING Several hundred people gathered at the Santa Barbara County Courthouse Sunday evening to hold a candlelight vigil in protest of a possible U.S. war with Iraq. For 45 minutes, candle-holding objectors lined both sides of Anacapa Street between Anapamu and Figueroa, bundled up against a chilly evening and shielding tiny flames to keep them from being blown out. Local vigils were also held at UCSB and in Carpinteria, Ventura and Ojai as part of a worldwide effort. As many as 3,000 cities in 90 countries were expected to take part. With news organizations reporting Sunday that President Bush might address the nation regarding war plans and a crucial U. N. Security Council meeting upcoming, some at the vigil saw it as mounting a last best effort for peace. "With the meeting (today) for the final decision as far as the resolution ... the vigil is a last ray of hope for peace to come out of this," said fifth-grade teacher Paul Grafton, who organized the courthouse event after finding a Web site about the worldwide vigils and seeing that none were planned in Santa Barbara. He spread the word by e-mail to several groups of consistent peace supporters and had 200 people commit to attend. Far more than that showed up. The tone of the vigil was somber. Some of the group sang songs as they stood along Anacapa, among them "Give Peace a Chance" and "This Little Light of Mine." Freelance videographers moved among the crowd, documenting the peaceful proceedings. People brought candles in paper cups and water bottles while others grasped fancy candlesticks from home. After moving to the Sunken Garden, a circle formed and people talked about their hopes and fears, among them that the Bush administration will push forward with a war despite dissent from other countries on the UN Security Council. Many in attendance were regulars at the weekly Saturday peace marches. But 11-year-old David Perron was attending his first peace action. Despite his youth, David said he is firmly against a war. "All it will cause is just more killing of families," he said. He expected to remember the solemn Sunday night vigil as he grows older. "Maybe the younger ages might want to know," he said. e-mail: letling@newspress.com |
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