Clearwater, FL - The contrast of the actions of “pro-war” activists on television as compared to those I witnessed at a rally, sponsored by media conglomerate Clear Channel, at Coachman Park in Clearwater Florida this past Saturday are like night and day.

What I witnessed at that rally were people filled with scorn, hate and rage, cloaked in Christianity and the Stars and Stripes. Accordingly, taking their religious roots to heart, hundreds of these “pro-war” patriots decided that profane verbal assaults laced with direct threats of physical violence were their most appropriate response to those of us who were there advocating for peace. Profanity and verbal threats were our companions throughout the event.

At one point a self-proclaimed "patriot" threatened a 13 year-old in our group. Had it not been for my girlfriend coming to her aid, he would have hurt this child. Unquestionably, the atmosphere was such, that one did not need to ponder what it must have been like to be at a similar event in Germany circa 1935. I felt the righteous hatred and animosity of this group. This was fascism in all its glory!

These so called “patriots” hurled objects at us, spat on us and even struck one of us with a flagpole. Thankfully, not one in our courageous group was physically injured, however. We had to face the constant barrage of hate and scorn.

Various “pro-war” activists, well informed as they claim to be by their illustrious leaders Glen Beck and Jeb Bush, asked us: "What did Martin Luther King do?" [Stand up for his rights] And when I asked her what her anticipated share of the $726 billion in proposed tax cuts would be she responded,"5%". Does she realize that 5% of $726 billion is $3,630,000? Does she even know? She has no clue!

Collective de-programming of the brainwashed masses may not be possible, and ignorance is not a crime! Assault and civil rights denied or diminished is however! The new era of government sponsored censorship by the corporate media and law enforcement is as serious as it is insidious.

The most unsettling aspect of the day was the "selective" gathering of the news that favored Governor Jeb Bush’s sermon. It was palpable! It was disturbing! Freedom of speech was only allowed if you agreed with the Governor! Any dissent or differing opinion was greeted by insults, profanity, and assault and battery. All of which the media and the Governor simply ignored, as if it did not happen. How could they see us when we were corralled in a “protest zone” even though the event was a considered a public event?

Sadly, I now know that these “pro-war patriots” are nothing more than hate-filled angry white men.

Want to read more about protests around the country, click here.