The now 30-mile-long People's Convoy is circling the Washington D.C. Beltway in protest of 'unconstitutional' coronavirus...
The now 30-mile-long People's Convoy is circling the Washington D.C. Beltway in protest of 'unconstitutional' coronavirus restrictions, such as mask and vaccine mandates.
The self-styled freedom convoy departed from the speedway in Hagerstown, Maryland Sunday morning on a journey to parade the 64-mile highway surrounding the capital city.
'Hold the line,' organizer Brian Brase told the crowd of drivers before they headed out, instructing them to stay with the protest.
'I beg of you to stay with the convoy. I beg of you to stay with the convoy and then come back down here, meet again and talk about our next plan.'
Brase, who was met with applause, added: 'We are not going to sit idly by. We are going to continue to press forward with our mission, but we are also going to do so with some diplomacy to show that we are not unreasonable and willing to talk, but also flex our muscle if you do not hear us.'
The group plans to circle the Beltway twice - a route that should take about four to five hours. Drivers were reminded to maintain safe distances, speeds of approximately 40 to 50 miles per hour and to be mindful of possible rainy weather conditions.
The convoy is reportedly cooperating with state and local law enforcement and does not plan to cause havoc in the area. Authorities had previously voiced concerns that the trucker protest could result in chaos similar to the January 6 Capitol riot.
Brase told the Washington Post Friday night that the group would continue its route around the Beltway each day this week, clogging one of the main arteries into DC until the group’s demands are met. However, as of Saturday morning, he indicated that plans will be determined day-by-day.
Another organizer did not rule out the trucks honking their horns along Pennsylvania Avenue.
'I can tell you now that there will be select trucks going to the White House,' organizer Dan Fitzgerald revealed on his Friday morning livestream. 'I don't want people thinking we are invading D.C. This is not the convoy going into D.C. commons. This is a few select drivers.'
HAGERSTOWN, MARYLAND - MARCH 6: The now 30-mile-long People's Convoy is circling the Washington DC Beltway in protest of 'unconstitutional' coronavirus restrictions, such as mask and vaccine mandates
HAGERSTOWN, MARYLAND - MARCH 6: 'Hold the line,' organizer Brian Brase told the crowd of drivers before they headed out, instructing them to stay with the protest
HAGERSTOWN, MARYLAND - MARCH 6: The self-styled freedom convoy departed from the speedway in Hagerstown, Maryland Sunday morning on a journey to parade the 64-mile highway surrounding the capital city
HAGERSTOWN, MARYLAND - MARCH 6: The group plans to circle the Beltway twice - a route that should take about four to five hours - in peaceful protest before returning to the Hagerstown Speedway
The People's Convoy - a spinoff from a protest in Canada started by truckers upset at vaccine requirements to cross the Canadian border - traveled from southern California nearly 2,500 miles to D.C. on an 11-day journey. The group stopped in major U.S. cities and rural towns along they way, holding rallies and meeting with their supporters.
The convoy - which has raised more than $1.6 million in donations made through its own website - is demanding that President Joe Biden end the national emergency originally declared at the start of the pandemic, as well as scrap any remaining coronavirus mandates.
The truckers allege the government has infringed upon their constitutional rights with the mandates.
However, their protest comes as nearly every state in America has either lifted or relaxed indoor mask mandates, or has set a date to do so in the near future. The lone holdout is Hawaii, the island state that has had the strictest mandates of anywhere in the country throughout the pandemic. Additionally, only 19 states currently have vaccine mandates in effect, according to the National Academy for State Health Policy - but the mandates do not apply to all individuals and their requirements vary by state.
Some political analysts allege the group is also calling for over-arching federal accountability and addressing additional political issues such as the alleged 'fraudulent' 2020 election and Russia's invasion of Ukraine.
HAGERSTOWN, MARYLAND - MARCH 6: Brase (not pictured) said the convoy is cooperating with state and local law enforcement and does not plan to cause havoc in the area
HAGERSTOWN, MARYLAND - MARCH 6: Organizers said Friday night that the group would continue its route around the Beltway each day this week, clogging one of the main arteries into DC until the group’s demands are met
HAGERSTOWN, MARYLAND - MARCH 6: However, as of Saturday morning, Brase (not pictured) told DailyMail.com's on-site reporter that plans will be determined day-by-day
HAGERSTOWN, MARYLAND - MARCH 6: Another organizer did not rule out the trucks honking their horns along Pennsylvania Avenue, saying Friday: 'I can tell you now that there will be select trucks going to the White House. I don't want people thinking we are invading D.C. This is not the convoy going into D.C. commons. This is a few select drivers'
HAGERSTOWN, MARYLAND - MARCH 6: The People's Convoy - a spinoff from a protest in Canada started by truckers upset at vaccine requirements to cross the Canadian border - is demanding that President Joe Biden end the national emergency originally declared at the start of the pandemic, as well as scrap any remaining coronavirus mandates
The People's Convoy - a spinoff from a protest in Canada started by truckers upset at vaccine requirements to cross the Canadian border - traveled from southern California nearly 2,500 miles to D.C. on an 11-day journey
The group's arrival to the greater D.C. area prompted security concerns and placed authorities on high-alert.
D.C. and Capitol Police have called on agencies from Maryland and Virginia, as well as the National Guard, to monitor the group. Officials say the fencing around the Capitol has been put back up 'out of an abundance of caution'.
The fencing was last erected after the January 6 insurrection at the U.S. Capitol.
D.C. police spokesperson Dustin Sternback has called the convoy a 'fluid situation' and noted Friday: 'Any sort of response strategies will be implemented in real time.'
However, convoy leaders say they plan to cooperate with police and hope there are any disruptions, besides the planned interruption to Beltway traffic. But, organizers are prepared in case any negativity was to occur.
HAGERSTOWN, MARYLAND - MARCH 6: The truckers allege the government has infringed upon their constitutional rights with the pandemic-era mandates
HAGERSTOWN, MARYLAND - MARCH 6: However, their protest comes as nearly every state in America has either lifted or relaxed indoor mask mandates, or has set a date to do so in the near future. The lone holdout is Hawaii, the island state that has had the strictest mandates of anywhere in the country throughout the pandemic. Additionally, only 19 states currently have vaccine mandates in effect
HAGERSTOWN, MARYLAND - MARCH 6: Some political analysts allege the group is also calling for over-arching federal accountability and addressing additional political issues such as the alleged 'fraudulent' 2020 election and Russia's invasion of Ukraine
HAGERSTOWN, MARYLAND - MARCH 6: The group's arrival to the greater D.C. area prompted security concerns and placed authorities on high-alert. D.C. and Capitol Police have called on agencies from Maryland and Virginia, as well as the National Guard, to monitor the group. Officials say the fencing around the Capitol has been put back up 'out of an abundance of caution'
HAGERSTOWN, MARYLAND - MARCH 6: However, convoy leaders say they plan to cooperate with police and hope there are any disruptions, besides the planned interruption to Beltway traffic. But, organizers are prepared in case any negativity was to occur
No comments