Swartout claims he was standing in the street behind his van and next to the curb when Fred DeWalt told him not to stand there.

“He started pushing me and his wife kicked me,” Swartout said of what happened next.

The DeWalts said Fred never touched Swartout. Fred hasn’t been charged by police.

Ann said she is not a member of Women in Black but is a sympathizer with the organization, while her husband is a member of Crawford County Veterans for Peace.

Ann claims that after Swartout got his flag and sign out of the van, Swartout came up to Fred and swore in his ear.

“He said two filthy words,” Ann claims and she said that’s when she pushed Swartout in his buttocks with her foot.

Swartout denies swearing at either of the DeWalts.

Women in Black had been holding rallies in Meadville’s Diamond Park on Saturdays at noon for several years, but last April 28 the group squared off peacefully with a group of veterans, military families and others.

Patrick McHenry, a Vietnam War veteran and the county’s coroner, got a permit for a Saturday mid-day rally, organizing his group at the same time Meadville’s Women in Black used the park for its weekly vigil.

McHenry organized his rally after being told of allegations of a serviceman’s wife being harassed when she stood on the sidelines of Diamond Park during a previous vigil by Women in Black.

McHenry said as holder of a permit to use the park that he wouldn’t allow attempts to disrupt his event and claimed exclusive use to the park as he saw fit for the hours specified by the permit. That rally was attended by dozens of local veterans.

Meanwhile, the Women in Black, Crawford County Veterans for Peace and the Erie Peace Coalition hosted an hour-long, silent march around the outside of the park from noon to 1 p.m., while McHenry’s group rallied inside the Diamond. The day ended peacefully, but the city was prompted to review its policy on the use of Diamond Park.

Meadville City Council this week gave preliminary approval to revisions to a new ordinance governing city parades, public assemblies and the use of Diamond Park. Council is expected to give final approval to the new ordinance next month.

Members of Women in Black declined comment on the Jan. 19 incident. Recently, the group reportedly has decided to host the Saturday vigils at various locations other than the Diamond.