AUBURN – About two dozen advocates for peace staged a vigil in front of the Androscoggin County Courthouse early Thursday evening to energize support for troop withdrawals from Iraq.

The event was organized by Renee Cote of Lewiston, who is a member of the Religious Society of Friends known as Quakers.

Members of the group held hand-drawn signs that read “War Is Not the Answer,” “Peace Not War” and similar slogans. Many passing motorists honked horns, and the expressions of support brought quick smiles and waves of a “V” peace sign from the demonstrators.

Dr. Stephen Sokol of Lewiston, who was one of the participants in the vigil, said, “I’ve seen the results of war, and it’s not the answer to any problems. The best way to support and protect our troops is to get them out of there.”

Sokol said he has traveled to Sierra Leone, Darfur and Kosovo and his observations in those war-torn regions strengthened his personal commitment to peace advocacy.

T.L. (Terry) Mikesell of Auburn said he was taking part in the event because “the situation has deteriorated more than I ever thought it would.”

He said it is disturbing to him to hear expressions of disrespect for the United States from people of other countries and from world leaders such as Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez and Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad.

“There are a lot of people here who have been active in anti-war work, as well as some church people and people with the local Quaker meeting,” Cote said.

The vigil was held “mostly for visibility to let people know there is still an organized effort to bring the conflict in Iraq to an end,” she said.

Cote said the vigil also aimed to draw attention to a Declaration for Peace which was drafted “by a number of social justice and faith-based groups around the country.”

“What we would like to happen is for troop withdrawal to begin now and, hopefully, be completed by March 19, 2007, which is the fourth anniversary of the commencement of hostilities in Iraq,” she said.

Another objective she attributed to the advocates is the closure of all military bases in Iraq. They also want to see control of the peace process and the reconstruction process, as well as control of the country’s resources, returned to Iraqis, Cote said.

This vigil was one of many in which Cote has been involved – most recently in Ireland. She said early events were met with some hostility from the public.

Now – as was the case with Thursday’s event – drivers often blow their horns in support.

Sokol noted that response was almost entirely positive, with only an occasional shout of dissent.

“But that’s the nature of democracy, isn’t it?” he said, “It’s the right for all of us to be heard.”