GDAEman: Pentagon Protest: Police Line on Washington Blvd

This is the final in a set of three photo essays about the Pentagon protest on March 17, 2007. The other two photo essays are:

Overview and Miscellaneous Photos

Speaker Stage Area Photos

As noted in the "Overview," the march led to a speaker's stage set up with the Pentagon in the background. The second area of activity was a police barrier across Washinton Boulevard at the bridge crossing Route 110 (Jefferson Davis Highway). The bridge is in the background of the photo below. The police line was formed on the left side of the bridge relative to the photo below.

Crowd listening to Speakers at the Pentagon Protest.
Washington Blvd. bridge in background.
March 17, 2007.

Upon arriving at the bridge, some people were saying that somebody had been arrested and sprayed with mace. A small crowd stood in front of the police comprising a group of direct action protesters, other marchers, and a variety of journalists.

Crowd standing in front of a police line the on
Washington Blvd. bridge crossing Rt. 110.
Pentagon Protest, March 17, 2007.

The line was composed of a variety of different police forces including State police, park police, and local police.

Police line blocking off Washington Blvd. looking South-East
toward the Pentagon. Note grass median and exit lane markings.
Pentagon Protest, March 17, 2007

Police line blocking off Washington Blvd. looking Nouth-West
away from the Pentagon. This is about half of the police line.
Pentagon Protest, March 17, 2007

The dynamic weather and setting made for some interesting photo opportunities. Despite good intentions, the Air Force memorial, seen in the background of the following photo, can't help but look a bit evil, like barbs of satan emerging from the ground.

Police line with helicopter and Air Force Memorial
in the background. March 17, 2007.

A group of direct-action protesters were assembled behind me from the vantage point of the police line photo immediately above. They were debating whether or not to confront the police line.

Direct-action protesters debate options at
the Pentagon Protest March 17, 2007.

The protesters decide to pull back, standing and conducting an organized retreat saying that they would meet the authorities again some day.

Anarchist protesters on Washington Blvd.
perform an organized retreat from the police blockade.
Pentagon Protest, March 17, 2007

A chartered bus got trapped on the Washington Blvd. bridge. The poster displayed in the window made the Vanderhoof bus company appear to be in support of the impeachment of George Bush.

Charter bus trapped on the Washington Blvd. bridge.
Pentagon Protest, March 17, 2007

Eventually, the police line started to slowly move forward to clear people off of the bridge. The process involved the line taking a few small steps forward, then stopping. The process was briefly altered when the police line reached a yellow school bus that had been trapped on the bridge, which it eventually let pass through the line.