The confrontation began with one officer ordering the crowd to disperse, but his order was met with catcalls and obscene replies. The soldiers marched out to disperse the rally by force. As the soldiers approached them, the students were unfriendly, yet nonviolent. Some stones were thrown at the soldiers, some obscene gestures were made and some offensive remarks were shouted, but nobody was injured.
The soldiers complained that the womens' remarks were especially hurtful on that day. Although the soldiers had been trained to disregard the insults of a crowd, some of the things which were said truly offended them -- and the solders' offense may have led to the murders they performed.