Coalition was rude to protesters

To the editor:

I was one of the counterprotesters at Thursday's "progressive peace" rally. I would like to thank Sue Niederer for her kind actions to those who would disagree with her. After all, the ability to speak your own mind and offer your own opinions regardless of who may disagree is what makes this country great. For the most part, I can say the same about the attendees.

However, I would like to let your readers know that a few members of the Southeast Missouri Coalition for Peace and Justice were quite rude and unbecoming. First, they demanded that the police remove us from the facilities when we had incited no violence nor any disturbance whatsoever. When we were invited to the conference as personal guests of Ms. Niederer, Dr. Bob Pollack's organization made sure that they had someone sit next to us as if we were children who had to be monitored. And the rude and disgusting responses to our legitimate questions asked to Ms. Niederer were not appreciated, nor were they called for.

Members of the SEMO Coalition should be ashamed of their actions and behavior. It does not speak well of them personally or the causes they support.

BOBBY HUNSAKER, Protest Warrior: Southern Missouri Chapter Leader, Poplar Bluff, Mo.