Whenever a Conservative Prime Minister comes to town, you can be certain there will be protests, especially when Canada is “at war with terror” in Afghanistan. Add in the fact that our government is deporting conscientious objectors, aka US soldiers seeking refuge in Canada, and there's certain to be someone yelling.

There was yelling and pail beating - a pail is louder than a drum - and chanting through megaphones.

Starting at the Covent Garden Market, a group of war resistors and allies marched through downtown, stalling traffic, with their own police escort to the London Convention Centre, where the Prime Minister was set to speak.

The war resisters group was protesting Harper and his conservative policies and the deportation of US soldiers.

Allies like the London and District Labour Council President, and Elgin-Middlesex-London NDP candidate Ryan Dolby were also on hand to lend support. Pamphlets detailing the current state of life for women, minorities and the impoverished were handed out.

Fanshawe's Social Justice Club was well represented at the protest, with about a dozen students taking part.

One protester dressed up as President Bush, while walking a Harper actor around like a marionette, complete with tee-handle and strings.

The protest registered little inside the Convention Centre. People watched out of the second story windows but comments were few. They were waiting for Prime Minister Harper.

In the hallway outside The Ballroom, Elgin-Middlesex- London MP Joe Preston reassured restless young Conservatives that the protesters were simply exercising their rights. The young Conservatives were clearly unconvinced. They were later given their own noisemakers to better cheer the Prime Minister, before, during and after his speech.

The protest was over by the time Harper exited the building.

The next U.S. soldier currently in Canada is set to be deported within weeks.