Early Friday morning, Virginia State Police and Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) workers cleared pro-Palestinian protesters from outside Secretary of State Antony Blinken’s home, where they had been camping for months.
This operation caused the closure of Chain Bridge Road for several hours.
At the time of the removal, only two demonstrators were present. One of them, Matthew Waterman, described being awakened by state troopers instructing them to leave. He hurriedly packed his belongings and recorded the scene, noting the presence of numerous police cars.
Friday marked six months since the encampment began. In May, an electric sign warned motorists about the protesters on the street.
Earlier this week, VDOT declared the encampment illegal, citing safety concerns. They stated, “Due to these unsafe conditions, the road was returned to its original state to ensure the safety of the traveling public on Virginia’s roadways.”
Waterman believes the decision to remove the protesters was politically motivated. He recorded his attempt to relocate outside the police line and was subsequently threatened with arrest and ordered to leave the area.
By 11:30 a.m., the road had reopened. Virginia State troopers are now monitoring the site to prevent trespassing.