When Scientology attacks?

BATTLE CREEK, Mich. (NEWSCHANNEL 3) - The video of two men involved in an altercation outside a Church of Scientology has garnered a lot of hits on YouTube, but it happened right here in West Michigan.

Two men protesting the Church of Scientology got more than they bargained for when a man and a woman from the church came out and confronted them last week. Even though they had the right to stand on the sidewalk in front of the Church of Scientology, the two protesters set up across the street for safety and visability, but Scientology members came across the street to engage them in a physical confrontation.

Newschannel 3's Ranji Sinha spoke to the men in a Newschannel 3 exclusive, and also spoke to the Church of Scientology for their reaction.

The protesters are from a group that calls themselves simply "anonymous" and has been targeting the Church of Scientology for months.

"We weren't even shouting, we were just there, last month we were warned by the police not to shout at cars and whatever, so we were just standing there across the street." said one of the men who claims to be one of the individuals in the video, and who wishes to remain anonymous, fearing retaliation from the Church of Scientology.

Members of the group wear masks, including the Guy Fawkes, V-for-Vendetta mask; a calling card of anonymous members, and want to tell what they see as the truth about Scientology.

"The church has a very simple and very harsh way of dealing with anyone who criticizes them, stalking, framing criminal acts trying to get them to lose their jobs." said one of the anonymous men.

The Church of Scientology gave Newschannel 3 a statement on the incident saying that "it is clear that these two masked individuals were only interested in inciting hatred and harassing members of the church. Some of our other churches have experienced threats and acts of vandalism from other members of the same group. They have no interest in free and open discussions."

The statement went on to say that "the church is not anonymous' only target. They harass people for their own amusement."

Both anonymous members say differently. "I didn't march across the street and rip the sign out of somebody's hands, I didn't get within an inch of their face and try to get them to fight back," said one anonymous man.

The Church of Scientology also says their Battle Creek office has done anti-drug work, and supported the city's fallen officers memorial.