Eerie scene at 9th and Pennsylvania Ave., 2:30 p.m. EST

[bobweaver]

Shortly before parade begins:

Thousands, thousands of police, almost a continuous unbroken line on both sides of the street.

Hundreds of protesters neatly penned in at one corner, with signs but very quiet.

Paid grandstands nearly empty (10% full at most). Scattering of spectators.

Everyone sitting or standing there doing nothing. Strangely quiet.

Loudspeakers from somewhere barking instructions that echo up and down the street.

Echoing speakers against quiet crowd creates almost cinematic feel.

Who are the police protecting? Who are they protecting them from?

It's almost poetic but eerie at the same time.