Police in Washington State are searching for two anarchists who attacked an Air Force officer with mace and a baseball bat after a protest got out of hand.

During the protest Sept. 5, the officer was forced to stop his motorcycle by a group of anarchists, Air Force Times reports. Upon seeing that there were two confederate flags on his motorcycle, two men dressed in black and camouflage clothing jumped forward and sprayed the officer in the face with mace. They also used a baseball bat to hit him in the back. A bystander tried to intervene and help the officer, but the bystander was also sprayed with mace.

The name of the officer, who is a pilot from Joint Base Lewis-McChord, is not being released at this time. He suffered eye irritation and bruises on his shoulder and back from the baseball bat.

The so-called peaceful protest also resulted in major damage to city hall in Olympia, Wash. Olympia police stated that while people have the right to speech under the First Amendment, the message of hatred spread at the event lead to violence against person and property.

Police said that the hate group is known locally as the “anarchists” and the two males who assaulted the officer are reportedly both approximately 6 feet 4 inches tall.

*Article by Jonah Bennett