Protestors and counter-protestors traded barbs and slogans July 20 outside the KidsPeace Broadway campus in Salisbury Township, both sides pointing to the plight of the immigrant children crossing the border in the Southwestern United States as their reason for raising their voices in protest.

A hastily organized effort by the Lehigh Valley Tea Party was expected to attract patriot groups from elsewhere in the state as well as Washington, D.C, Ronnie DelBacco, a member of the executive board of Lehigh Valley Tea party, said at the scene.

Meanwhile, Joe Welsh, of Easton, also at the scene but across the street, said he used social media and email contacts to reach out to his fellow counter-protestors.

Salisbury Township police and KidsPeace security were on hand to keep order.

Drivers honked horns, pumped fists and flashed peace signs in support of their preferred side. One driver blew a car horn playing the tune "Dixie."

Rumors of buses or van loads of children being brought to the Broadway campus prompted the Lehigh Valley Tea Party to come out, DelBacco said.

"We're not here to cause a problem. We don't want to start any word wars (with counter-protestors)," DelBacco said.

Hand drawn placards on cardboard, posters and silk screened banners touted phrases such as "Secure Our Borders," "Stop the Immoral Smuggling of Children," and "Don't Tread on Me" above a rattle snake against a gold background. At one point a red, white and blue banner was unfurled featuring a quote attributed to Thomas Jefferson.

Across the street, counter-protestors displayed signs declaring "No Child is Illegal," "No Place for Hate in the Lehigh Valley," and "We Support KidsPeace."

Both sides flew American flags.

"We're a good, kind, decent people," Welsh said of Americans, describing the counter-protest as an effort to show the Tea Party protest was not the only voice to be heard in the area.

"We believe in our principles so we don't need a crowd to say what we think," Welsh said, recognizing the counter-protesters were outnumbered by the protestors across the street.

Protestors from both sides began to gather mid-morning and numbers on both sides grew as the day wore on. Tea party protestors used a portable public address system to be heard over the din of passing traffic. Counter-protestors used a bullhorn or their voices raised in shouts. Many on both sides stood silent and let the signs held speak.

Police provided the rules of the protest early: To protect public safety no one was to walk on Broadway outside the marked crosswalk or stand on KidsPeace property. Officers occasionally directed traffic when the steady stream of traffic along Broadway got congested as drivers slowed to read signs or honk. An ambulance crew from St. Luke's Hospital delivered bottled water.

Bevin Theodore, director of public relations and communications for KidsPeace, noted KidsPeace is among facilities helping children crossing into the United States. With facilities in ten states and Washington, D.C., including the residential campuses in Salisbury Township and Orefield, and outpatient programs including therapy and foster care, KidsPeace specializes in helping children.

KidsPeace, Theodore said, had no official comment on the protest.

"They have a right to protest as long as they're not on our property," Theodore said.