Pro-Palestinian Protesters Removed from Blinken Residence After Six-Month EncampmentPro-Palestinian Protesters Removed from Blinken Residence After Six-Month Encampment On Friday morning, Virginia State Police and Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) cleared pro-Palestinian protesters who had been camping outside the residence of Secretary of State Antony Blinken for the past six months. The protesters, who had been camped along Chain Bridge Road, were ordered to vacate the area after VDOT declared the camp illegal due to safety concerns. Only two protesters were present at the time of the removal, and one claimed he was dragged from his tent. Authorities closed Chain Bridge Road for several hours during the operation. By 11:30 a.m., the road was reopened, and Virginia State Troopers were monitoring the scene to prevent any unauthorized crossings. The protesters maintain that their 183-day encampment posed no safety risks and believe that the decision to evict them was politically motivated. In a statement, they condemned the authorities’ actions as “an invasion.” VDOT emphasized in a statement that the road had to be restored to its original condition for the safety of motorists. The protesters also expressed concerns about their legal status after being threatened with arrest if they did not comply with the eviction order. Despite the removal of the camp, authorities have indicated that they will continue to monitor the situation and prevent any further unauthorized encampments.
Early Friday morning, Virginia State Police and Virginia Department of Transportation personnel cleared pro-Palestinian protesters who had been camped out for months outside the home of Secretary of State Antony Blinken.
After the camp was removed, Chain Bridge Road was closed for several hours.
There were only two protesters present when the protesters were removed. Matthew Waterman, one of the protesters, told News4 he was dragged from the tent where he was sleeping.
“I hear the Virginia State troopers outside the tent announcing themselves and telling us to leave. So I rushed to grab my stuff and came out of my tent to start shooting video. Police cars as far as I can see,” he said.
Friday marked six months since the camp began. In May, there was an electric sign warning motorists of people on the side of the road.
Earlier this week, VDOT declared the camp illegal. “Due to these unsafe conditions, the road was returned to its original condition to ensure the safety of the traveling public on Virginia roadways,” they said in a statement to News4.
Waterman believes the decision to evict the protesters was political. As he began to leave, he picked up his phone to record himself trying to get past the police line.
“As of the day of the forced dismantling and invasion, the peace vigil (known as “Kibbutz Blinken”) had been at its location for 183 days with no safety or security risks to participants or motorists,” the protesters said in a statement.
Authorities then threatened to arrest him and ordered him to get into his car and leave the location.
By 11:30 a.m., the road was open again. Virginia State Troopers are now monitoring the scene. A spokeswoman said they would remain there if necessary to prevent anyone from crossing the VDOT line.
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