Anti-war protest shuts down light rail for 30 minutes | Politics

A protest against the war in Iraq ended up shutting down the Tacoma Link light rail line for 30 minutes as they marched down Pacific towards I-5.

According to the News-Tribune, the march started at 4 p.m. by the Union Station Federal Courthouse.  They were planning on marching to the overpass over I-5 for a 5:30 demonstration over the freeway.

Sound Transit says that the protest shut down its Tacoma Link line for about a half hour.  Service is back running as normal now.

KOMO Newsradio is reporting that police closed the on-ramp from Pacific to I-5 as the protesters passed.

The News Tribune also said that the protesters had a city permit for the protest and permission to block the street.  They also said that there was one counter-protester along the route, standing and holding an American flag.

The protest is to mark the 7th anniversary of the beginning of the war in Iraq.  A similar protest is planned for downtown Seattle on Sunday.