The Lawrence Coalition for Peace and Justice is moving its Saturday peace vigil to a new downtown location.

The organization has conducted the vigil outside the Douglas County Courthouse, 1100 Mass., since September 2002 in response to talk of war with Iraq. It has continued to meet there from noon to 1 p.m. in protest of the war.

Now the vigil is being moved to the southeast corner of Ninth and Massachusetts streets. Participants will have more of an opportunity for discussion and interaction with pedestrians, coalition member Joe Douglas said.

“We believe that open, respectful discussion leads to better awareness and understanding by all parties involved,” he said.