Starting at 5:00 p.m. on the steps of the old Federal Building, the Eugene, Oregon vigil was an outdoor event. Candles were lit. Short speeches were made by Betsy Steffensen (from Million Mom March), Baldr Odinson (Ceasefire Oregon), Denise Baker (Lane County Suicide Prevention), and Eugene mayor Kitty Piercy (a member of Mayors Against Illegal Guns). The speeches emphasized the need to lock up and unload guns in homes with children, the lack of background checks for private sales, and the need for civility in discourse about guns. Most of all, the greatest emphasis was on the overwhelming number of case of gun violence, both in the U.S. and here in Lane County, Oregon.
There was a moment of silence, then the reading of names of those in the county who had been victims of gun violence. This was particularly moving, as a young man had the week before been accidentally shot by his juvenile brother, even though they lived ON the grounds of a gun club, had grown up with guns as part of their lives, and whose family were custodians of the club. Friends and family of the slain young man were present at the ceremony. Also moving was the account of Officer Kilcullen, killed last year by a seriously mentally ill person who had purchased her gun legally. After the reading, people were invited to come up and read names of others not listed.
After the reading of names, a prayer was offered by a member of Church Women United, and then Amazing Grace was played by a bagpiper before we adjourned.
Though it was a cold night for our area, in the mid-30′s, there was a turnout of around 50 people, each holding lit candles. Looking out over the crowd during the moment of silence is a memory I will always cherish for its emotion.
The Eugene, Oregon vigil was co-sponsored by a number of organizations: Ceasefire Oregon, Million Mom March, Ceasefire Oregon Education Foundation, Democratic Party of Lane County Peace Caucus, and Community Alliance of Lane County (CALC). Other groups helped spread the word, including Beyond War, Women’s Action for New Directions (WAND), Church Women United, and Occupy Eugene.
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