Wausau police have no plans to increase patrols at war protests outside the Marathon County Courthouse after witnesses said a man attacked one of the demonstrators Monday.

Five squad cars responded to the site of the twice-daily protests after someone called 911 at about 4:30 p.m. to report that a man was assaulting one of the war protesters.

Jane Rusch, 42, of Wausau, one of the demonstrators, said a man tried to grab the upside-down, defaced Amer-ican flag carried by protester Mike Wallschlaeger, 39, of Mosinee. When Wallsch-laeger refused to give up the flag, Rusch said the man pushed him to the ground and punched and kicked him.

Police on the scene said they planned to forward a report to District Attorney Jill Falstad recommending that both Wallschlaeger and the man,would not say what effect the protests have had on his business.

Although Wallschlaeger is not continuing the protests, Olson said he intends to keep going.

"I came to the conclusion that I'm protecting my constitutional rights and I'm going to keep doing it," he said.

Olson spent the first 15 minutes at lunchtime protesting alone, but he was joined by Gerry Whipps, 63, of Wausau, who said he was angered by news reports about the alleged attack on Wallschlaeger and decided to join the protests.

Whipps has a son, Jonathan, who has been in Kuwait since February with the U.S. Army.

"My wife and I are pro-peace and pro-troops, but I can't be more distressed than I am that someone would use violence against someone who is essentially anti-violence," Whipps said.

The war