Candles glowed in the darkness Sunday night outside the Douglas County Courthouse as more than 70 people gathered to speak out against the now 2-year-old, U.S.-led war in Iraq.

“Hundreds of thousands of people have died unnecessarily, and I don’t think we have a reason to be there,” said Lauretta Hendricks-Backus, one of those who took part in the candlelight vigil in the 1100 block of Massachusetts Street.

Laura Di Routh, Lawrence, displays an anti-war sign during a candlelight vigil protesting the United States' involvement in Iraq a day after the two-year anniversary of the start of the war. The Sunday night vigil took place in front of the Douglas County Courthouse at 11th and Massachusetts streets. Also pictured is Heather Muth, center, and her son Skylar, 4, both from Lawrence.

The vigil was organized by the Lawrence Coalition for Peace and Justice, a group that has been having weekly Saturday war protest rallies outside the courthouse since Sept. 7, 2002, as President George W. Bush was trying to garner support for attacking Iraq. Saturday marked the second anniversary of the day Bush gave the order to start the war.

Many of those who took part in the candlelight vigil also have participated in the Saturday peace rallies and were quick to note that Iraq’s weapons of mass destruction Bush said was the main reason for going to war didn’t exist.

Some of those at the rally held signs that said “U.S. Troops Out Now” and “Support the Troops, Bring Them Home.”

Allan Hanson, who has headed the Peace and Justice Coalition, said he had no idea the peace rallies would have to go on for as long as they have. The rallies have taken on a life of their own and would continue with, or without the coalition’s direct involvement, he said.

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“It’s an opportunity for people to get the strength and comfort from other people of like mind,” he said. “We think this is something that is really important for us to do.”