Over the past few weeks, an assorted coalition of movements formed and traveled across the United States with the goal of opposing mandates in the style of similar activism that had taken place in Canada.
February 22:
Truckers and others joining the “People’s Convoy” group in particular began gathering on February 22 at Adelanto Stadium in California.
February 23:
By the following morning, hundreds had gathered, preparing to convoy toward Washington DC.
March 1:
As the truckers began their journey toward the Nation’s Capitol, the National Guard was activated and placed on standby based on the theory that a separate trucker’s convoy could target the State of the Union on March 1st. Police re-erected a fence around the Capitol.
Kyle Sefcik, a former MMA fighter, held a permit for an event supporting the trucker’s convoy, which he originally listed as expecting 3000 people. He downgraded that to 500 people, and finally, on the afternoon of the State of the Union, approximately a dozen activists and a few dozen journalists showed up.
Biden arrived at the Capitol for the State of the Union uninterrupted, and unprotested on the evening of March 1st.
March 1 -4:
By then, the much larger “People’s Convoy” had only made it to Monrovia, Indiana, just outside Indianapolis, where it had grown to hundreds of vehicles, still trekking east-bound. The community met to rally and hear from speakers on a nightly basis. By March 3rd, the convoy made it to Cambridge, Ohio.
On March 4th, the group arrived at Hagerstown, Maryland, where they assembled something of an outpost at Speedway stadium. Washington DC was about an hour drive away.
March 5:
By this time, a great deal of apprehension had built in their movement about the prospect of entering Washington DC, which they were expected to do around the 5th.
That day, a small coalition of progressive activists gathered in DC to hold what they called a “Rally against white nationalism” opposing the truckers.
The group disputed that the People’s Convoy movement consists of what socialists would consider workers, instead condemning them as small business owners and capitalists. While that rally was meant to signal opposition to the convoy’s presence in the district, they never came.
Instead, the convoy’s leadership described concerns over possible outcomes if they entered the city, and resolved to make a decision in the morning. As the sun set on Hagerstown, the convoy honked and celebrated their progress.
March 6:
Ultimately, the truckers decided that the best way to make their presence felt without incurring risks of arrest or confrontation would be to circle the beltway.
While never forming into a blockade, the truckers were able to be visible to residents of DC and neighboring communities before returning to Hagerstown. Some local residents of Montgomery Country stood on an overpass with signs and American flags to cheer for the convoy.
Not all locals were in support. Two held a sign mocking the activists with a flag reading “Trump Lost, LOL.”
One jogger began to tear down the convoy supporters’ flags and was forcefully confronted.
The convoy ultimately returned to Hagerstown, vowing to continue circling DC daily until their demands were heard.
March 9:
But what were those demands exactly? On March 8, a delegation of People’s Convoy participants entered the city to sit down with members of congress.
A few dozen met with Republican Representatives Matt Gaetz, Majorie Taylor Greene, and Thomas Massie.
Many of the truckers expressed concerns about powers exercised by the government over the past two years, and wanted to know how to avoid further restrictions during any future outbreak. One member offered two specific pieces of pre-drafted legislation.
While not directly related to mandates, many also expressed frustration over skyrocketing gas prices.
The truckers seemed satisfied that as long as their proposals were examined, the event would be a success.
RC “Casper” Pittman of Bikers for Trump was happy with the meeting, but felt the proposals had no hope without politicians like Speaker Nancy Pelosi out of office, which he believes can only be achieved through term limits.
The convoy continues to loop the beltway, they say, indefinitely.
Only time will tell how long the looping, and the honking, will continue.
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