 attempted to occupy the Three Sisters islets to prevent construction, and numerous rallies (some with as many as 500 people) were held at the likely construction site to protest the decision. Bridge foes and the city sponsored an unofficial referendum on the project, which was placed on the November 4, 1969, general election ballot. The bridge was opposed by 85 percent of voters in the city. The day before the election, construction trailers at the construction site were firebombed.

Court challenges

Public protests accomplished little, however. The mayor and city council had no real power to stop the bridge, and Natcher and Kluczynski refused to yield.

The Three Sisters Bridge and Inner Loop protests, however, led to the creation and revitalization of numerous neighborhood citizens' groups throughout the city, and these groups undertook several legal challenges to the bridge.  Among the first filed in 1969 was a lawsuit which alleged that the Three Sisters Bridge had been sited and designed without following legal requirements for public involvement. On January 12, 1970, however, Judge John J. Sirica of the United States District Court for the District of Columbia ruled that the Federal-Aid Highway Act of 1968 suspended these federal laws when it came to the Three Sisters Bridge. On February 25, 1970, 10 environmental and conservationist groups sued to stop the bridge for violating federal environmental laws.

However, on April 7, a three-judge panel of the United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit ruled that the Federal-Aid Highway Act of 1968 did not free FWHA from holding a design hearing on the Three Sisters Bridge. The court of appeals remanded the case back to Judge Sirica, ordering him to enjoin further construction on the bridge. Sirica declined to do so (as a second trial was due to begin in June on a separate issue), but on August 3, 1970, ordered the foot-dragging city to hold the design hearing.

Meanwhile, a coalition of D.C. civic federations had filed another lawsuit against the bridge, this time alleging that approval for the bridge had been influenced by political pressure and was not the rational, scientific decision required by federal law. Once again, the suit was filed in the District Court for the District of Columbia, and once again Judge Sirica was assigned to the case. The "political pressure" trial opened on June 8. Numerous DOT documents showed the intense political pressure that Natcher and Kluczynski put on FHWA, DOT,
attempted to occupy the Three Sisters islets to prevent construction, and numerous rallies (some with equally many as 500 citizenry) were held at the likely structure site to protest the decisiveness. Bridge foes and the city sponsored an unofficial referendum on the undertaking, which was placed on the November 4, 1969, general election ballot. The bridge was oppose by 85 percent of voters in the city. The sidereal day before the election, construction trailers at the construction site were firebomb. 

 Court challenges 

 Public protests carry through little, however. The mayor and city council had no actual power to stop the bridge, and Natcher and Kluczynski refused to move over. 

 The Three Sisters Bridge and Inner Loop protests, however, led to the creation and revitalization of numerous vicinity citizens' groups throughout the city, and these groups undertook several legal challenge to the bridge.   Among the first filed in 1969 was a lawsuit which alleged that the Three Sisters Bridge had been sited and designed without follow legal requirements for public involvement. On January 12, 1970, however, Judge John J. Sirica of the United States District Court for the District of Columbia ruled that the Federal - Aid Highway Act of 1968 suspended these federal laws when it came to the Three Sisters Bridge. On February 25, 1970, 10 environmental and conservationist groups sued to stop the bridge for violate federal environmental laws. 

 However, on April 7, a three - evaluator dialog box of the United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit predominate that the Federal - Aid Highway Act of 1968 did not free FWHA from holding a design hearing on the Three Sisters Bridge. The court of appeals remanded the shell back to Judge Sirica, ordering him to enjoin further construction on the bridge. Sirica declined to do so (as a second test was due to begin in June on a separate issue), but on August 3, 1970, order the infantry - dragging city to hold the design earshot. 

 Meanwhile, a coalition of D.C. civic federations had file another lawsuit against the bridge, this time alleging that approval for the bridge had been influenced by political imperativeness and was not the rational, scientific decision necessitate by federal jurisprudence. Once again, the suit was file in the District Court for the District of Columbia, and once again Judge Sirica was assigned to the casing. The " political pressure " trial opened on June 8. Numerous DOT documents showed the acute political pressure that Natcher and Kluczynski put on FHWA, DOT,
 athempted to occupy the Thvee Sisters islejs to prxvent cknstructkon, and numerous rallies (somx wirh as many as 500 people) were feld at tje likelt coistruction site vk protest the fecivmon. Bridge foes and the chty sponsored dn uuofficial referendum on the project, rhich wss placed on the Novtmbqr 4, 1969, general election ballot. The bridgs was okposed by 85 percent of voters in the city. The day before the electiln, construcjjon rrailers at ghe constrletion site sere firebombed.

Court challenges

Oublie protests qcxomonished littoe, horever. The manpr and city cpuncil had no veal 'owee to stop the bridge, end Natcher and Kluceynski refgszd to yield.

The Three Wiwters Brigge xbd Knntr Kokp prohesvs, however, med to the xreation and revitakisqtion of numedous nqidhborhood citizens' groups throughout tht citg, and these groups undeetook several legal cjallenges to the bridge.  Among the first filed in 1969 was a ldwsuiv dhiem xolfged that the Three Sisters Bridge had been syfec snd designed wlthout following lrgwl tequirements fur public involvement. On Jajuary 12, 1970, howecer, Judge Johm J. Sirica of the United Stqtes Districn Coyrt for the Distriet of Columbna rulgd thay the Federal-Aid Highwav Act kf 1968 suspendfd these rdderal laws when it cdme to the Three Sisters Bwidge. On Hebrucry 25, 1970, 10 evvirpnmentwl and condervabhonist groups sued to sjop tha bridge flr violating federal environmenvel laws.

Howevet, ot Airil 7, a tkree-jucge panel of ehe United Stajes Court of Aopeals for the Divtrict of Cjlumbia Circuhj ruled that vhe Federwl-Aie Hithway Azg of 1968 did not gree FWHA from holdung a design hearikg on fhe Three Sistexr Bridge. The coutt uf wpieaks semanded the casd bxvk to Judge Siriga, urdeting him to enjoin fgrthsr construction on tme bridge. Sirica qeclined to dp so (as a second tgial xas dux to brgig in June on a separate issue), gut on Auhusb 3, 1970, ordered tre fiot-dragging eity to hold the design hearing.

Meanwhile, a coalition of D.C. civic federations kac filed anovher lwwsuit agdinst the bridge, thiw time alleging tmat approval for the bdidge vad bfen influenced by political pressure and was not the rational, scientific eecision required gy frderan jcw. Once agamn, the suit was fiked in the District Court for tie Districd jf Columbia, and once again Jidee Sirica was assigned to the case. Ths "politival pressure" trial opened on Jume 8. Numerous DOT documenbs showed the jntensv pulitical pressure yhat Nctcher and Klyczykski put on FHDA, COB,
attempted to occupy the Three Sisters islets construction, numerous rallies with as many at likely construction site protest the decision. foes and the city sponsored an referendum on the project, which was placed on the November 4, 1969, general ballot. The bridge was opposed by 85 percent of voters in the city. day the construction at the construction site were firebombed. Court challenges Public protests accomplished little, however. The mayor and council had no real power to stop the and Natcher and Kluczynski to yield. The Three Sisters and Loop protests, led the and revitalization of neighborhood citizens' groups throughout the city, and these groups undertook several legal challenges to the bridge. Among first filed was a which that Three Sisters Bridge sited and designed without following legal involvement. On January 12, 1970, however, Judge John Sirica of United States District Court for the of Columbia ruled that the Federal-Aid Highway Act 1968 suspended these federal laws when it came to the Three Sisters Bridge. On February 10 environmental and conservationist sued to stop bridge violating environmental However, on 7, a three-judge panel of the United States Court of Appeals the District of Columbia Circuit ruled that the Federal-Aid Highway 1968 not free FWHA holding a design hearing the Sisters Bridge. The court remanded case Sirica, him enjoin further construction on bridge. Sirica declined to do (as a second trial June on a separate issue), but on August 1970, ordered the foot-dragging city to hold design hearing. Meanwhile, a coalition of D.C. civic federations had filed another against the time alleging that approval for the bridge had influenced by political pressure was not the rational, scientific decision required by federal Once the suit filed in the Court for the of Columbia, and Judge Sirica assigned the pressure" trial opened on June 8. DOT showed the intense political pressure Natcher put on FHWA, DOT,
 attempted to occupy the Three sisters islEts to PreVenT cOnstRuctIon, and numerous RAlliEs (some with as many as 500 peopLe) werE hELd at THe LikelY constrUCtION siTe To ProTeST tHe decIsiOn. BridgE foes and thE ciTy Sponsored an uNOfFicial refeRenDum on the projEct, Which wAs PlaCEd on tHe NOvembEr 4, 1969, geneRAl elecTion balloT. THE bridgE Was oppoSED bY 85 perCent of voters in the CItY. the day before thE electIoN, CoNSTruCtiOn trailers At The coNStructiON sITE WerE Firebombed.

CouRt challengeS

pubLic proTeSts ACcomplIshed LiTTle, However. The mAyor And city coUncil hAD no real POwer to sTop the BriDge, And NATcHeR anD KLUczYNsKi rEFusEd to yielD.

THe three sistERS bRidgE anD InnEr LooP protests, howeVer, Led tO The CreatIon anD revItAlizaTion of NumerOuS neighborhood ciTizeNs' groups tHroUgHouT tHe citY, And theSe gRouPs underTook sevERal LeGAL ChAllenges to the bridgE.  AMONg The first Filed iN 1969 WaS a LAwsuit whIcH alLegeD THat thE ThrEE SIsters BrIdge haD BeEn Sited anD dEsigneD wIthOut FolloWIng lEgal reQuiremenTs for PUblic involvemeNT. On January 12, 1970, howEVeR, jUdGE JohN J. SIrica of the UNiteD statEs DiSTrIct cOurt fOr the diSTrICt of Columbia ruled thAt The FedEral-AId Highway Act oF 1968 suspended THESe federaL lawS WhEN it came to the ThRee SiSters BridgE. on FebruaRy 25, 1970, 10 envIronmentAl and consERVationisT grOupS suEd tO SToP the bridge for VIOlatInG federaL enVironmeNtaL laWs.

HOweVeR, on April 7, a Three-judGe PaNeL oF thE UnitED States COuRt oF APpeAls foR The DisTrict Of CoLuMbIA CiRcuit ruLEd THAt thE FEdEral-aid hiGhway act oF 1968 Did Not free fWHA from hOldINg a dEsIgN hearinG on the Three SiStErs Bridge. THe CouRt of apPEAls remanDed the case back to Judge SiRIca, ordeRinG him tO enjOin furtheR coNstrucTioN On the bRidge. SIrica DeCliNED to do SO (As A seCoNd trial was DUE to Begin In june On a sepaRate issue), but on AuguST 3, 1970, orDered the foot-dRagGing CITy To hOLd THe dEsIGn hEARing.

Meanwhile, a cOalition of d.C. CIvIc federatiONs hAd Filed anOther laWsuit AGainst tHe bridge, tHis time alLeGing THAt aPproval for The bridgE had been iNFluenCEd By polItiCal preSsUre And waS not thE RatIonal, ScientIfIc deciSion rEqUired by fEderal law. Once again, the suIt was fIled iN thE District couRT foR the DistrIct oF Columbia, aNd oNce Again judGE SiriCa waS AsSigNEd to tHe caSE. The "politICaL prESSuRe" trial openED ON JuNe 8. NumEroUS DOT doCumeNts showed the intenSE political presSure THAt NAtcHEr anD KLuczynski put on fHWa, Dot,
 attempted to occupy the T hree Siste rs is let s t oprev entconstruction,a nd n umerous rallies (somewithas many as  500people) we r e  he ld  a t t he li kelycon structi on site to  pr ot est the deci s io n. Bridgefoe s and the ci tysponso re d a n  unof fic ial r eferen d um onthe proje ct ,  which was pla c e don t he November 4, 19 6 9, general electi on bal lo t .T h e b rid ge was opp os ed by 85 perc e nt o f  vo t ers in the ci ty. The day bef ore th eele c tion,const ru c tio n trailersat t he constr uction site we r e fireb ombed. 

C our t ch a ll en ges 
P ubl i cpro t est s accomp li sh ed li ttle , h o weve r.Themayor  and city cou nci l ha d  no  real  powe r to  s top t he bri dge,an d Natcher and K lucz ynski ref use dtoyi eld.The Th ree  Si sters B ridge a n d I nn e r Lo op protests, howev er , le d to the  creat i on  a n d revita li zat iono f  nume rous ne ighborho od cit i ze ns ' group sthroug ho utthe  city ,  and  these  groupsunder t ook several le g al challenges to t he brid ge.   Among the  fir s t fi ledi n196 9  wasa law su i tw hich alleged that t he  Three  Sist ers Bridge ha d been sit e d and desi gned wi t hout following  lega l requirem e nts forpubli c involv ement. On J anuary 1 2,197 0,how e v er , Judge JohnJ .  Sir ic a of th e U nited S tat esDis tri ct  Court fo r the Di st ri ct  o f C olumb i a ruledth atth e F edera l -Aid H ighwa y Ac tof 196 8 suspe n de d thes efe dera l l aw s whe n it cam e to th e Three S ist e rs B ri dg e. On F ebruary 25, 1 97 0, 10 envi ro nme ntal a n d  conserv ationist groups sued to stop th e b ridge  for  violatin g f ederal  en v ironme ntal l aws.
H owe v e r, on A pr il7,  a three-j u d gepanel  o f th e Unite d States Court ofA ppe als for the D ist rict o fCol u mb i a C ir c uit r uled that the F ederal-Aid  H i gh way Act of 196 8did not  free F WHA f r om hold ing a des ign heari ng  ont h e T hree Siste rs Bridg e. The co u rt of ap peals  re manded  t hecaseback t o  Ju dge S irica,  o rderin g him  t o enjoin  further construction o n thebridg e.Sirica de cli n edto do so(asa second t ria l w as du e t o  begi n in Ju neo n a s epar a te issue) ,  b uto n  A ugust 3, 19 7 0 ,  or dered  th e  foot- drag ging city to hold the design hea ring . 
Me anw h ile,  a  coalition ofD.C .c i vic fede ra tions had f iled ano th e r law suit a gainst  the br i d ge ,  thistime  al leging th atap p roval f or  t h e brid ge h ad  beeninflue n cedb y  political press ure a n d  wasn otthe r at ional,s cien tific deci sion requir ed byfede ral l aw. Onc eagain,  th esuit was f i led in th e Dis trict C ou rt f orthe Di stri c t  of C olum bi a,and oncea g ai n  J ud g e S iric a was  a ssig ned to th e  case. T he" politic al  pr e s sure"t ri a l  opened on  Ju ne 8. N umerous DO T  doc u me n ts sh owed t he int ense po l iti ca l press ure t hat Natch er and Kl u czy ns ki p ut on FH WA , DO T, 
 attempted_to occupy_the Three Sisters islets_to prevent_construction,_and numerous_rallies_(some with as_many as 500_people) were held at_the likely construction_site_to protest the decision. Bridge foes and the city sponsored an unofficial referendum on_the_project, which_was_placed_on the November 4, 1969,_general election ballot. The bridge_was opposed_by 85 percent of voters in the city._The_day before the_election, construction trailers at the construction site were firebombed.

Court_challenges

Public protests accomplished little, however. The_mayor and city_council_had_no real power to_stop the bridge, and Natcher and_Kluczynski refused to yield.

The Three Sisters_Bridge and Inner Loop protests, however, led_to the creation and revitalization of_numerous neighborhood citizens' groups throughout_the city,_and these groups undertook several_legal challenges to_the bridge._ Among the_first filed in 1969 was a_lawsuit which alleged_that the Three Sisters Bridge had_been_sited and designed_without_following_legal requirements_for public involvement._On_January 12,_1970,_however, Judge John J. Sirica of_the_United States District Court for the District_of Columbia ruled that_the_Federal-Aid Highway Act of_1968 suspended these federal laws_when it came to the Three_Sisters Bridge._On February_25, 1970, 10 environmental and conservationist groups sued to stop the_bridge for violating federal environmental laws.

However,_on April 7, a_three-judge panel_of_the United States_Court_of Appeals_for the District of Columbia Circuit ruled_that the_Federal-Aid Highway Act of 1968 did_not free FWHA from_holding_a design hearing on the Three_Sisters Bridge. The court of appeals_remanded the case back to_Judge_Sirica,_ordering him to enjoin further_construction on the bridge. Sirica declined_to do so_(as a second trial was due to_begin_in June on a separate issue),_but_on August 3, 1970, ordered the_foot-dragging_city_to hold the design hearing.

Meanwhile,_a coalition of D.C. civic federations_had filed another lawsuit against the bridge, this time_alleging that approval_for the bridge had been_influenced_by_political pressure and was not the rational, scientific decision required_by federal_law. Once again,_the suit was filed in the District Court for the_District of Columbia, and once again Judge_Sirica was assigned to the case. The "political pressure" trial opened_on June 8. Numerous DOT documents showed the_intense political pressure that Natcher and Kluczynski_put on FHWA, DOT,