WESTLAKE, Ohio--David Yue went to Crocker Park on Monday night to protest American intervention in Syria.

He came equipped with everything he might need for a good, peaceful rally: a clear voice, candles for a late night vigil and a staunch political stance.

"I wanted to express that we don't want bombing, we don't want another Iraq. We want diplomacy, we want peace," he said.

So when he parked his car and shuffled to the street, he was ready to be joined by a chorus of sympathetic voices.

Except, David Yue ended up on the wrong side of the street.

Unbeknownst to him, a counter protest, organized by Syrian expatriates and Syrian-Americans, had sprung up on Crocker Road, directly across from Yue's intended protest.

The counter protesters were rallying for intervention, shouting that something had to be done about Assad.

Yue spent a few minutes milling about before realizing he wasn't where he should be. Deciding to make the best of his situation he started chatting with the "other side."

"They didn't necessarily say that Assad should be killed or that there should be bombings but they did say that patience had run out. Something has to be done," he said.

He lingered on that side of the street.

Opposite Sides of the Street

The conflict in Syria began in 2011. During that time, rebel groups have been fighting to overthrow President Ashar al-Assad's regime. According to

, more than 100,000 lives have been claimed by the fighting.

The de facto civil war drew international headlines on Aug. 21 when chemical weapons were allegedly deployed, killing more than 1

Congress will soon vote on approving military action in Syria. On

President Barack Obama will speak directly to the America people via a rare prime time televised speech.

In response,

, a political action website, organized a night of nationwide peace rallies. Hatham Haddad, a native Syrian, hosted a protest at Crocker Road.

Wearing the Syrian flag around his neck and toting an anti-war sign, Haddad walked up and down the line of anti-war protesters.

"We're advocating anti-war and for a peaceful Syria," he said.

Haddad said he was born in Syria and came to the United States when he was 24. He still has immediate and extended family in the country. He has concerns about the raging civil war but that doesn't mean he wants American action.

"Something should be done about Assad by the Syrians," he said, "We shouldn't lobby for a missile attack or another war. We did that in Iraq and we know what the outcome was."

Many of Haddad's fellow protesters were veterans or family of veterans. They were tired of invading Middle Eastern countries. They were tired of American casualties and endless occupations.

Across the street, Haddad's counterpart and counter-protest organizer was Ihsan Mamoun and he too carried a Syrian flag.

Mamoun, and his fellow protesters, were there to ask for help in ending the Syrian conflict.

"We're here to ask for intervention to stop Assad from using chemical weapons again," he said, "If no one stops him then he will keep on killing and use them on a larger scale."

Mamoun said he was born in the United States but grew up in Jordan and Saudi Arabia. His parents were Syrian though and much of his family still lives in the war-torn nation.

He said that Assad has crossed a "red line" and must be stopped, however he's not asking America to do it by themselves.

"We're not asking the United States to intervene. This is about international action, the world needs to stop this madness," he said.

He added that even if Assad turns over

, his fear for the Syrian people would not be abated. He believes Assad would simply find new ways to kill his own people.

"Isn't that similar to a red line?" he said of Assad being asked to turnover his chemical weapons, "He's going to keep killing."

Most of the people on Mamoun's side of the street were Syrian, by heritage or birth. They had family stuck in the area. They were worried. They wanted someone to help their loved ones. They wanted the killing to stop.

Crossing the Street

As the anti-intervention side lit votive candles, David Yue began the short trek back to his car. He was still carrying a plastic grocery bag filled with his own unused candles.

He never did end up crossing the street to his intended protest.

"What I've learned is that this side," he said gesturing towards the pro-interventionists,"says, emphatically, that this is not a civil war. It's Assad and his cronies basically going on a killing spree."

He paused and then added, "I also thought it might be a religious war. The conflict crosses religious circles, though. Children are being killed. Adults, men and women, are being killed."

The bag of unused candles twirled around Yue's fingers.

"I don't know that I'm totally on this side of the street but I see the other side now," he said.

Yue drove down the middle of Crocker Road a short while later, his head twisting to look at both groups of protesters.