A GROUP of activists opposed to the Covid-19 vaccine mandate is traveling across the country to Washington, D.C.
The group started their journey in California, and as they passed through each state, more joined the procession.
What is the freedom convoy 2022?
The freedom convoy 2022 was inspired by the trucker protests in Ottowa, Ontario in Canada last month. The group is made up of activists who are openly against Covid-19 vaccine mandates even as mandates across the country are lifting.
The convoy set off from California last week with its sights set on blocking the D.C. beltway, The Washington Post reported; but the leader of the convoy, Brian Brase, said that is no longer the plan.
They now intend to reach Hagerstown, Maryland this weekend and Brase said they do not intend to target Washington, D.C.
The convoy has been updating its location and on Thursday, March 3 they were greeted in Salina, Kansas by a crowd of people cheering and waving American flags.
“We support anything when it comes to truck drivers and their freedom,” convoy supporter Chelly Menkhofm told 13WIBW News. “And when it comes to the freedom, you gotta do what you gotta do.”
Another supporter, Dalton McDowell, said the people gathering in support of the Freedom Convoy “is a great show in solidarity with not only the truckers but the general contractors and employees that are forced to get the (COVID-19) vaccination. And I stand with them.”
The Kansas Truckers for Freedom Facebook page is encouraging people to join and is private except for those accepted into the group.
The front page of the site says, “Let’s stand up for our freedoms and fight these unlawful mandates peacefully and effectively! The US is currently organizing a similar convoy to that of Canada,” the site says.
“If you are from Kansas and would like to be a part of this, or simply wish to support from home, please join! Trucker or not, we need to stand together and say NO to all of these “health” mandates!”
What is the freedom convoy planning to do?
The group intends to engage in a “peaceful protest” according to their Facebook page, and Brase said they have been invited to meet with US senators and representatives when they arrive.
In a video posted to social media, Brase told the convoy the plan when they reach the D.C. metro area is still uncertain.
“Tomorrow or tonight, I’ll tell you about some options we have,” he said, adding, “I want to think on it more before I consider them.”
However, The Washington Post reported one participant of the convoy posted a live stream on YouTube Friday, March 4, 2022, and said, “select trucks will be going to the White House,” but they would not be targeting the city.
“I don’t want people thinking we are invading D.C.,” he said on the live stream. “This is not the convoy going into D.C. commons. This is a few select drivers.”
Despite the convoy’s claims that their trip is nothing more than a peaceful protest, Sara Aniano, a Monmouth University graduate student of communication studying far-right rhetoric and conspiracy theories on social media remains skeptical.
“Maybe people don’t want to listen to Brian (Brase). Maybe people want to go rogue and do their own thing. I wouldn’t put faith in anything,” she said.
Aniano has been following the Freedom Convoy’s response and reactions through Telegram chats, social media, and live streams and added, “We still don’t know where and what the end game is.”
How is the region preparing for the convoy?
Maryland and Washington, D.C. officials are having a difficult time preparing for the convoy because of the varying size of the convoy.
Throughout its 12-day journey, some group members have decided they’ve driven far enough and turned back while others join to take their place.
Sgt. Christopher Watson, a spokesman for the Illinois State Police, told The Washington Post that as the convoy passed through his state it was impossible to tell who would be arriving in the D.C. region.
“People would reach a destination point and decide, ‘Okay, I’m far enough’ and go home, and then more would join along the way,” he said.
“It varied widely, and so we had to adapt on the fly quite a bit.”
In preparation for the convoy’s arrival, Washington County schools closed two and a half hours early on Friday, March 4 and both Virginia and Maryland police forces have arrived in the area, according to The Washington Post.
There is still heightened security in the country’s capital and police are now stationed on the beltway and major exit ramps in case they need to divert traffic.
Although police in the region say they are still unsure what will happen when the convoy arrives, D.C. police spokesman Dustin Sternbeck said, “It is fair to say we would explore all mitigation options” should the convoy enter the district.
