"They used intimidating tactics like putting their gas guns up even though there was no threat of violence," says Zachary Patrick Grey. Via phone, he speaks exclusively to CBS 3 Springfield about what happened leading up to his arrest Monday night.

"Protesters were sitting down holding peace signs and they held us there for three hours or so," he says.

But the peace didn't last. Grey says he's accused of throwing feces at an officer, so Tuesday, the UMass student appeared before a Denver judge. The undergrad faces charges of disturbing the peace, interfering with officers, and being an irritant.

"I was surrounded by 20 or so bike cops and then violently arrested and cuffed," he says.

In court, he says, his stretched shirt came at the hands of police. The UMass undergrad was just one of several from the Pioneer Valley Food Not Bombs chapter, who are protesting outside the Democratic National Convention. He and the others are lobbying against a two party government.

"We believe that the power of change is in the power of the community rather than in the hands of a ballot box," he says.

But Grey feels it's his passion that landed him behind bars.

"I did not deserve to be arrested because I'm here to organize community and take part in beautiful new world," he says.

His friends back in Amherst who know him say he's quiet. They think in this case, it's his hair that defined him.

"He has dreadlocks and I'm sure that attracted attention to police," friend David Klotz says.

Yet, other students aren't surprised the UMass reputation for protests is now being displayed on a national stage.

"Seems like up here at UMass, somebody's always protesting something. It's a pretty liberal school," says senior Adam Alicea.

Grey is out on bond, but will need to face a Denver judge on September 2nd.