A week earlier, about 100,000 Moro Muslims gathered in Marawi City to vehemently protest the arrival of US troops under the Balikatan. Moro youths vowed that they would launch an intifada (unarmed resistance) against the Americans if they persist on ‘invading’ Lanao del Sur and Marawi City. Although the US Embassy in Manila had come out with a statement that the Balikatan in Lanao del Sur will be confined to “humanitarian” activities, the Moro youths in particular and the people of Lanao del Sur in general question the sincerity of this statement by arguing that the US government has civilian instrumentalities which it can use for humanitarian purposes, so why does it have to utilize the US military? 
 
The anti-Balikatan Muslim protesters had prepared a cable rope at the entrance of Banggolo Bridge purposely for the human barricade to prevent the entry of the US military personnel scheduled to conduct the medical mission in the city. They also burned spare tires placed at the corners of the said bridge to attract the attention of passing vehicles. While the burning tires caused a little congestion at the Bridge, passengers and car owners waved and chanted “Allahu Akbar” in support of the youthful protesters and not minding the smoke and the delay. 
 
At around 9 a.m., a report reached the protesters that Americans troops were sighted along Basak Malutlut road and that  they were unloading construction materials for their project in Basak Malut-lut elementary school.  The protesters immediately marched towards Basak Malut-lut and during their march they were joined by bystanders as well as by owners and workers of commercial establishments along the route.
 

Upon reaching the intersection leading to the Lanao del Sur Provincial Capitol Complex along the Basak Malut -lut road, the protesters spotted the SUVs and pickups carrying the armed American military personnel escorted by Filipino soldiers.  Incited to anger by the sight of the uniformed US soldiers, the protesters spontaneously mobbed their vehicles and pelted them with stones. The ranks of the Moro protesters were joined by more passersby and jeepney and pedicab drivers who stopped along the way and joined forces with the Moro youth protesters in venting their anger against the US military personnel. Many of those who joined were weeping and shouting "Allahu Akbar”. Taken by surprise, the American soldiers immediately beat a hasty retreat with the protesters still running after them and stoning their vehicles.

Not satisfied with their first encounter with the soldiers of the proud American imperium, the Moro youth protesters proceeded to the school were the American soldiers were constructing a room building.  Upon arriving at the site, the residents informed the protesters that the American soldiers hurriedly fled from the area upon learning that the protesters were marching towards them. 
 
This day is hailed by the Moro youths as the first Moro Maranaw resistance against US intervention in Mindanao in current history. According to a Moro youth who requested anonymity, the intifada has begun and will continue until the US forces quit Marawi City, Lanao del Sur and Lanao del Norte.