Phalanx:
The phalanx (Ancient Greek: φάλαγξ; plural phalanxes or phalanges, φάλαγγες, phalanges) was a rectangular mass military formation, usually composed entirely of heavy infantry armed with spears, pikes, sarissas, or similar pole weapons. The term is particularly used to describe the use of this formation in Ancient Greek warfare, although the ancient Greek writers used it to also describe any massed infantry formation, regardless of its equipment. Arrian uses the term in his Array against the Alans when he refers to his legions. In Greek texts, the phalanx may be deployed for battle, on the march, or even camped, thus describing the mass of infantry or cavalry that would deploy in line during battle. They marched forward as one entity. [Wikipedia]
Noted in “7 points Biden needs to make about voting rights,” Jennifer Rubin, WaPo:
Sixth, Biden should announce that in 2022 and 2024, the Justice Department will deploy a phalanx of voting monitors to prevent intimidation and attempts to falsify or overturn legitimate election results. It was a mistake for federal prosecutors not to investigate the efforts of Sen. Lindsey O. Graham (R-S.C.) to pressure Georgia election officials to throw out ballots and former president Donald Trump’s efforts to demand they “find” new ballots. While Biden has pledged not to direct the Justice Department to undertake specific actions, he can publicly call for Congress and the department to clarify the law as needed and prevent such behavior in the future.
A popular metaphor.