In Berkeley, a war of words filled the streets with passion.
On the surface, this was about the presence of a Marine Corps recruiting office on Shattuck Avenue.
A response was coordinated by a group called Move America Forward, to regular protests by an anti-war group called Code Pink, which wants the office gone.
It never opened this morning.
"We do not want one child, one youth, one person over in Iraq," said Zanne Joy, Code Pink.
Move America Forward brought out their own firepower, which included a retired lieutenant colonel that used to work as a military aid for President Bill Clinton.
"This is the epicenter of the leftist movement. That's why we're here," said Lt. Col. Buzz Patterson, U.S. Air Force (Ret).
By the time this rally peaked, Shattuck Avenue had become a microcosm for this nation's debate over Iraq.
The right on one side of the street. The left on the other.
A lot of people were in middle, trying to figure it all out.
"All I did was drive by 10 minutes ago, and I got so offended by what they said to me that I pulled my car over and stopped," said Megan Carol, who supports troops.
The debate is both political and personal.
Deborah Johns drove in from Granite Bay to support a son who has served three tours.
"My son's a hero," said Johns.
Giovanni Johnson from San Francisco says they're missing the point.
"I would respect her son if he would become a conscientious objector," said Johnson, a war protestor.
Berkeley looked a lot like the Berkeley of old, without bullets, tear gas, or arrests.
Just a highly charged American discourse, featuring free speech and the right to assemble, on either side of a street.
Both sides thought their respective points had been made.
"We closed down the Marines," said Joy.
"This is Code Pink's home town, and we kicked their butt," said Patterson.

http://abclocal.go.com/kgo/story?section=local&id=5712926