For those who don’t know me in my private life; I’ve got something of a temper problem. For instance, whenever I see neo-Nazis protesting, my first reaction isn’t “lets try to convert them,” but “lets beat them up.” No, I don’t have a whole lot of patience for these thugs. So, considering my own reaction to neo-Nazis, I’ve got to say that I can’t blame other protesters for taking on neo-Nazi protesters in Washington, DC yesterday.

 A march by a busload of neo-Nazi activists on Constitution Avenue yesterday wreaked havoc on a balmy afternoon in the capital, bringing traffic to a halt, filling the streets with hundreds of police and provoking an ugly confrontation on the sidelines that resulted in at least three arrests.

About 30 marchers from the Michigan-based National Socialist Movement, waving red swastika flags and shouting “Sieg Heil,” emerged about 2:30 p.m. from a bus one block from the White House and strode toward the Capitol, flanked by thick cordons of police who walked the route in riot gear and hundreds of officers on horseback, bicycles and motorcycles.

The marchers said their purpose was to denounce illegal immigration and to offer white Americans an alternative to the two-party political system. Many wore black storm trooper uniforms, boots and armbands.

The march itself was peaceful, and U.S. Park Police said the organizers had a permit. But the atmosphere was tense, and before the event started, a clash broke out between march supporters and local demonstrators who came to condemn the message.

The local protesters, many of whom wore kerchiefs covering their faces, began waiting in the morning for the neo-Nazi marchers, banging drums and shouting slogans. At midday, about 50 demonstrators found several march supporters next to the Washington Monument, and an angry confrontation erupted.

Police surged around the shouting crowd and tackled a number of people, including a Washington Post photographer. Three protesters were handcuffed and led away.

“People marching in brown shirts and swastikas is a tool of intimidation and terrorism. We came out here to oppose them so they won’t feel they can do it safely,” said Dan Peterson, 23, a D.C. resident who was arrested.

I know. I know. “Everyone has the right to speak out.” Sure. But I’m sympathizing tremendously with the counter protesters, because it’s something I want to do every time I see neo-Nazis walking, let alone protesting, as well (and have done when I was younger).