Ventura County, CA - The 48 Hour Nonstop Vigil to End the War, called for by the Ventura County Students United Against War, ended Saturday, March 22, around 9 PM, 4 hours past teh 48 hour goal. Protesters stood day and night on the corner of Victoria and Telephone in front of the Ventura Government Center. Vigilers set up signs, flags, banners, sleeping bags, tables, and lawn chairs on the sidewalk next to the nearby Vietnam War Memorial, transforming the corner into a sort of "peace camp."

Many protesters, young and old, answered the student call for a nonstop vigil. Others stopped by with coffee, donuts, and snacks for the vigilers. Attendance at the vigil ranged from hundreds to just two.

Though most cars passing by reacted positively to teh protst, others harassed the vigilers, giving the middle finger, yelling and cursing, throwing cans, and spitting at them. vigilers also suffered from verbal and physical assaults. On the evening of the first night, vigilers were shot at by a white man wielding a paint ball gun. The next morning, two women, who were alone at the vigil, were verbally assaulted by three young males, one of whom was wearing a black ski mask. On the second night, a group of pro-war demonstrators stood across from the vigil for a few hours, yelling insults and racial slurs. When a group of anti-war protesters peacefully confronted them, the pro-war demonstrators reacted violently. The racist demonstrators also punched a passing motorist and physically assaulted the vigilers on another occassion. They also treathened more attacks to be carried out by their "militia." One pro-war demonstrator was arrested by police for outstanding warrants.

Despite the harassment and threats of greater violence, protesters kept up the vigil. Many vigilers did not initially plan to attend but later decided to come to defend the vigil against the threats. Police and the security at the government center were also helpful, and there were no incidents between police and the anti-war vigilers.