Protestors Taunt Recruits, Vets Outside Enlistment Center

Oct. 27, 2010— -- Sensitive political discussions these days seem to escalate immediately into nasty taunts and insults, drowning out civil debate. But is it the angry few who dominate the conversation, hijacking it from the majority who prefer a calmer discussion?

"What Would You Do?" used hidden cameras to explore a political hot button -- war protestors ganging up on veterans and those who want to enlist -- all of them actually paid actors. Outside a military recruiting office in Stamford, CT, ABC's cameras were rolling as a group of loud war protestors, all hired actors too, chanted, "No More War!" and held up signs with slogans such as "We Are the Terrorists" and "Bring the Troops Home."

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A new recruit, another actor, made his way toward the center to sign up for duty. The protestors immediately began to harass him, calling him "baby killer" and yelling, "This guy wants to kill women and children!" It didn't take long for a lawyer passing by to step in to defend the recruit. In a calm but firm voice he told them, "It's his decision. If anybody wants to enlist in the greatest army in the world, fine. It is honorable and good if that is what he wants to do."

Rather than yell back, the lawyer engaged the protestors peacefully -- even though he strongly disagreed with their viewpoint. In fact, once "What Would You Do?" host John Quinones revealed to him that they were all actors, he said, "I wish it were a real situation, so I would be talking to real-world idiots." Despite feeling they were "out of their minds," he had treated the protestors with respect.

Passing the same protest later on, another man pulled aside the recruit to warn him, "You're not going to change their minds, walk away." He chided the protestors, saying, "You have signs and say 'peace' but you don't seem to be going about it in a peaceful way."

When the protestors didn't back down, he changed tactics, suddenly cursing at them and threatening, "I could take you apart in two seconds …" He quickly made it clear he was just trying to teach them a lesson, saying, "You think that's over the line? I think that's over the line (too). That would be in your face and that would be wrong. Just like you calling him a 'baby killer' is not going to get you where you want to go."

War Protestors Gang Up on Veteran

Next ABC upped the ante on the conflict to see what would happen if the young protestors ganged up on an older veteran. Nick, an actor who happens to be a real veteran himself, approached the protestors and tried to calmly debate them. In response, the protestors followed directions to taunt him as a "war criminal" and to surround him and chant loudly in his face.

Several men walking by soon stepped in, and one told Nick, the actor portraying a veteran, "I don't agree with the war but I support you guys." Another man asked the protestors, "Why are you getting at military men? Politicians, senators, presidents, that's who you're after. You're not after captains, who protect you, come on."