On the same day President Obama announced he would ask Congress to approve military action in Syria, a group of anti-intervention protestors gathered outside the White House. Here’s a dispatch from photographer Michael Kandel.

It started out with a small crowd of anti-intervention protestors, which grew over the morning hours. At roughly 1:30 p.m., a group of Free Syria activists arrived to ask Obama to support the rebellion. The two groups passionately squared off, each straining their voices to drown out the other.

As the morning progressed, the groups came closer to one another and were eventually face-to-face. They shouted their disagreements, and plead their respective cases while others tried desperately to separate the groups via a human chain.

Shortly after, mounted police and Capitol Police in riot gear moved in and divided the crowds. Both groups continued their respective demonstrations as Obama made his announcement in the Rose Garden. The President said that he favors military action, but will employ congress to debate and decide on the US course of action.

According to Fox News’ Twitter account, “protesters out front of White House [were] audible from the Rose Garden,” where Obama gave his statement.