Fists flew at a peace protest Tuesday when two passers-by grabbed at signs and grappled with an anti-war demonstrator at West University Avenue and 13th Street.
The protestor, Gainesville resident Ku Wang, said two men approached the corner where he and others had arranged posters criticizing the federal government, and they began to yell curse words.
After the men, who Wang said appeared to be in their 20s, grabbed at a sign that read "Stop Iraq War, No Iran War, Impeach," Wang said he approached the men and told them to stop.
The spat turned into a shoving match, and Wang and one of the passers-by began to grapple and fell into the roadway of University Avenue, he said. Nearby onlookers rushed to the fight and separated the two men, at which point the two men who started the fight began to walk toward a silver Mazda6 parked nearby, according to protestor Ron Nichols.
Police arrived at the scene soon after, although no medical attention was needed for Wang, who suffered only a scratched finger and elbow.
"These were mentally deranged elements," Wang said. "They're characterized by fear, hate and ignorance."
