Trucker Convoy Protest in DC

A convoy of trucks known as the “People’s Convoy” circled Washington, D.C. on the Beltway last Sunday and Monday, along with others protesting the Covid-19 vaccine mandates. The protestors were hoping to attract lawmakers’ attention with their actions. After being inspired by what happened in Canada in February, the truckers’ convoy is making its way across America and into Washington, D.C. Even as governments have removed pandemic restrictions, vaccines are still being resisted. The protest on Sunday could be the start of days of unrest.

The convoy, which was one of several heading to D.C. last weekend, followed in the footsteps of Canadian trucker protests that began in late January and lasted for weeks, with activists protesting Covid-19 regulations which crippled U.S. border crossings and Ottawa’s capital. The organizers of the “People’s Convoy” earlier stated that the group had no intention of imitating the Canadian protests with blockades or clashes with authorities. Organizers, according to the Washington Post, are aiming to repeat the action until their demands are met. Other convoy groups have also stated that they want to demonstrate in or around D.C., though it is unclear how many groups, individuals, or vehicles will be involved.

The truckers are claiming that they’re a red, white, and blue version of the recent Canadian trucker protests. They’ve taken to the road even as pandemic restrictions have loosened around the country. According to the convoy’s website, the major goal is to persuade the White House to lift the state of national emergency declared in response to the pandemic.

One trucker, Dan Davidson, stated that he is protesting for “freedom; the government is trying to force people to have vaccines that they don’t want to have. I’m not vaccinated. I’m not going to be.”

Bucky Bean, a trucker from Nebraska, said, “Two weeks ago I was very close to shutting my door, and I am 35 years into trucking. I was done.”

The vaccine mandates are affecting those who have been serving as truckers for many years and are now leaving them with no choice but to possibly quit their jobs.

The convoy is a controversial topic due to the conflict surrounding the Canadian border. John Burnett, a reporter for NPR, had a comment on trucker Andrew Chafa, stating that his concerns should be with Canada, not the U.S.  And he’s not completely wrong because the truckers are entering a different country and they are not within U.S. boundaries or regulations, meaning the U.S. has no involvement in their concerns.

Many might ask what this protest is all about and what the message they’re trying to convey is? The elimination of Covid-19 rules, including mask and vaccine requirements, is a consistent demand from all of the groups. The “People’s Convoy” said it was “time to reopen the country” because of decreased Covid-19 cases, as well as more immunizations and medicines against the virus.

 According to DC Health, Covid-19 cases have decreased by more than 90% in the district since the Omicron wave peaked. In addition, there has been a 95% reduction in hospitalizations. One of the main demands among the many factions is for President Donald Trump, who some of them believe won the election, to lift the national emergency, which he initially declared in 2020 in response to Covid-19.