Hundreds of truck drivers reunited in Southern California alongside their supporters on Wednesday before setting off on a cross-country trip to Washington to protest COVID-19 restrictions.
Inspired by the protests that have paralyzed cities across Canada for weeks, organizers of “The People’s Convoy” want end of mask mandates, vaccination requirements and business stops intended to slow down the march of COVID-19[FEMALE[FEMININE
“Let’s go back normal,” said Bryan Brase, whose rig was near the bow of caravan in the small town of Adelante.
“I think everyone is here for different reasons, but everything ends down to the same thing: freedom and freedom,” said Shane Class, who had traveled from Idaho to join the rally.
“It’s time for our government for start understand that people want this freedom in the Constitution back.”
The convoy should start out later Wednesday on one 11 days drive in Washington DC areaarriving on On March 5, although organizers say they have no plans to enter the city himself.
This assurance did not prevent the mobilization of 700 men of the national guard to provide added security around the nation’s capital, as authorities worry over a possible repeat of January 6, 2021 invasion of Congress by supporters of defeated President Donald Trump.
Pentagon Press secretary John Kirby said the officers would not be armed and would not have the ability to arrest peoplebut would report wrongdoing to local police.
A number of large vehicles, including snowplows and garbage trucks, have been deployed on the streets of the capital to prevent access at sensitive sites.
Convoy organizers stress on their website that it is a non-partisan movement that includes both Republicans and Democrats, although there have been many of flags meaning support for Trump among participants in Adelante.
Numerous of the interlocutors of Agence France-Presse (AFP) expressed arguments common on the libertarian right.
“I can not anymore work at my facility, a major health organization without religious exemption,” said one Los Angeles-based nurse who does not have wish for give son name.
“So in ordered for me too earn a source of income for my familyI must call on the holy and just name of Jesus.”
The movement has attracted more over $450,000 of donations, according to the website, which organizers say will be used to reimburse fuel and other costs incurred by truckers participants.
The convoy leaving Adelanto is just one of a number of planned truckers events start in various rooms of the country.
Others must leave from Texas, North Dakota, Washington State and Ohio over the next few days, according to greatamericanpatriotproject.org.
Inspired by Canada’s truckers, similar protests are on the rise up around the world from France to New Zealand.
