So, there was a protest in Chapel Hill today. I’m sure everyone is shocked about that. I threw myself into the middle to provide a play-by-play recount of the events.

About 30 anti-war protesters converged on the UNC-Chapel Hill campus and made a near 2 mile walked down Franklin Street to protest the opening of a new military recruitment station in Chapel Hill. I joined in the fun to provide a “bird’s eye” view of the festivities.

This was mainly a student-led protest with some Chapel Hill residents joining in the “fun.” As the protesters walked down Franklin Street, more and more people joined in to get about 50 or so protesters at the recruitment center, which was opening this week.

Most of the protesters were college students. 

Signs were held that said “Army Recruiters Out, and “Law Not War,” (that sign was placed on the United Nations flag). Of course they were chanting things like “Shut the War Down,” “Out of Iraq, Out of Our Schools,” and many other classic hits recreated from the 1960s.

As we made our way down Franklin Street, the protesters were met with some cheers, some boos (including one who I thought was going to run across the highway to start a fight), and some honks of the car horn.

The real fun came when we arrived at the recruitment center, which for perspective is located near the Applebee’s in Chapel Hill. The protesters were met by some veterans, including some Purple Heart winners. The protesters and veterans had some back and forth and some nearly came to an altercation.

Eventually the protesters gave speeches in which one claimed that recruiters rape women and that soldiers are homophobic. Also, did you know the Iraq war is racist? That is what the protesters claimed several times throughout the afternoon.

After participating there are two things I can take from today’s protest. The first is that the anti-war crowd can’t think of anything creative to promote their ideas and use the same strategies from the 1960s. The second is that after that walk, I’m not going to have to work out as much tonight at the gym.