Park Police Officers Deal With Major Demonstration

Protestors flocked to Washington on Saturday, September 15th, for a large demonstration protesting the war in Iraq. Some of the demonstrators began their rally in Lafayette Park, others at Freedom Plaza and in Pershing Park. They then joined forces to march down Pennsylvania Avenue towards the Capitol. Two large groups of counter-demonstrators also rallied at the United States Navy Memorial on Pennsylvania Avenue and on the Mall at 7th Street. As the demonstrators marched to the Capitol, the counter-demonstrators lined Pennsylvania Avenue. Park Police and Metropolitan Police officers helped keep the march moving and prevented any major incidents between the opposing groups. The demonstrators eventually gathered on the west lawn of the Capitol. Once there, they began to engage in civil disobedience. The United States Capitol Police requested assistance from the Park Police, and officers were sent to help hold a police line. Capitol Police subsequently arrested more than 100 demonstrators who crossed that line.