3/22/03-

Last night, approximately fifteen protesters, mostly youth, women, and people of color, were present at a last-minute anti-war protest in Anaheim. Protesters marched from the Anaheim Police Station to the busy intersection of Harbor Blvd. and Broadway, and stood at the corner holding signs, chanting peacefully.

Despite the fact that protesters were peaceful, several passerbys and patrons of a nearby restaurant were disruptive and abusive. A group of war supporters began dialoguing with protesters, but became increasingly hostile as the evening progressed. One of the men rallied some of his Bush-loving buddies to break into a spontaneous pro-war protest. As their numbers increased, so did their belligerence. Their insults escalated from political diatribe to personal attacks, to outright threats of assault. The confrontation lasted for almost two hours. Several people also drove by waving huge Amerikkkan flags from their pick up trucks, and hollering insults throughout the evening.

Although the situation could have easily escalated into violence, the anti-war protesters did not succumb. I am glad to report that although the police monitored the event, they kept their distance, and no one was arrested.