SALEM, Ore. - Rather than spend Thanksgiving with her family, a Corvallis woman fasted on the steps of the State Capitol in Salem. 

Michele Darr has protested here for nearly a month with no food and no shelter. She sleeps on a thin mat and only consumes water, vitamins and an occasional cup of coffee. 

Mike Galimanis, KGW-TV

Michele Darr has been on a hunger fast in protest of an Oregon National Guard deployment.

Darr is protesting the proposed deployment of 3,500 Oregon National Guard to Iraq and Afghanistan.

“I have close friends in the National Guard,” Darr said. “I instantly saw the toll it took on them to be called up again and I found that very sad and disheartening.”

She said sacrificing this time away from her children is nothing compared to the sacrifices that soldiers are required to make overseas.

“It's taken a huge, tremendous toll on the guard and their families,” Darr said.  “We feel at the very least they're owed a justification for the sacrifice they're being asked to make.”

Darr’s partner, Reese Gooch, stayed by her side. Other protestors occasionally stop by to show support.

Darr says she plans to camp out on the steps until Gov. Ted Kulongoski agrees to meet with her. 

Kulongoski is the commander and chief of the guard but he does not have authority over deployment.