A long line of “People’s Convoy” drivers with cars covered in American flags blocked traffic around the US capital on Wednesday, blaring their horns.
The people’s convoy, which gained momentum in the US after a Canadian trucker convoy protesting a vaccination ban blocked the border earlier this year, has completed its 11-day, 2,600-mile journey across the US and arrived in Washington just a few days ago.
On Wednesday, the caravan blocked traffic in endless lines near the National Mall and honked diligently, causing passing locals to yell at them to “go home” and block public buses.
Many protesters have adorned their cars with variations of the American flag, especially the Betsy Ross and Confederate flags, which are often used by the far right and cause racist controversy. They also painted “convoy 2022”, “faith over fear, your choice”, “freedom” and “people are united” on their windows, constantly honking, annoying locals trying to pass through the city.
The protesters originally planned to reach D.C. by March 1, but the column moved too late. While his message has become obscure in recent days, hand-drawn signs on car windows indicate that most are still there for the original reason in both the US and Canada: protesting COVID-19 mandates.
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The people’s convoy, which was originally called the “Freedom Convoy” and launched after Canadian truckers protested vaccination requirements at the border, completed its 11-day, 2,600-mile journey across the US and entered the capital just a few days ago.
The truck was labeled “people are united” and “love everyone” as it blocked traffic along with other protesters. On Wednesday, the People’s Convoy blocked traffic in endless lines outside the National Mall and diligently honked.
The rear window of the truck had “Let’s Go Brandon” written on it, along with Marine Corps and US flags. Many of the cars also featured Betsy Ross and Confederate flags, which have been embroiled in racist controversy and are used by the far right.
D.C. resident Michael Wille, who posted a video on social media Wednesday of a convoy honking and growling in traffic, is a minibus driver. He told that he “agrees with their right to protest as long as they don’t block the free flow of goods, services and people.”
“We all really don’t need more traffic than we have here,” he told on Wednesday.
Vehicles began to roam the streets after the National Mall Park Service rejected their permit application by lead organizer Brain Brace, 37, to turn the mall into a truck stop. Braze appeared to be making outlandish demands, according to the Daily Beast, which reviewed his statement. The application was rejected.
When asked in the application if Braze believes there is “any information indicating that any person, group or organization may be trying to disrupt the activity,” Braze wrote: Antifa, a left-wing anti-fascist, anti-racist group.
The convoy attempted to get National Mall permission to set up a trucker camp, as well as block off 12th to 3rd Street between Madison Drive and Jefferson Drive for 12 days for demonstrations. Permission denied for nearly a mile of land
Organizer Brian Braze, 37 (pictured in red next to Senator Ted Cruz), presented a permit and cited Antifa, a left-wing anti-fascist group, could disrupt the protest.
Braze also said “between 10,000 and 100,000” protesters will turn up on the National Mall, despite reports that attendance has dwindled to about 500 in Maryland, a stop before DC, according to the Daily Beast.
In addition, the group demanded a blockade of a large protest area from 12th Street to 3rd Street, between Madison Drive and Jefferson Drive, which spans nearly a mile from the National Mall and will block several Smithsonian museums. He also demanded that the blockade last 12 days from 14 to 26 March. It is unclear how long the caravan plans to stay or what it will do in DC.
Protesters are pushing the already heavy traffic in D.C. even further, causing locals to yell at them to “come home”.
A people’s convoy tried to slow down traffic near the Capitol.
Despite the refusal, the protesters blocked off areas of the District of Columbia already terribly congested on I-395.
In addition to causing a lot of noise in the streets, they blocked the telephone lines of the DC police. At Tuesday’s meeting, where organizer Mike Landis announced the idea of ”breaking[ing] tear down the fence at the White House and hang[ing] politicians” was “extremely tempting” – other organizers instead urged protesters to “break” police phone lines by constantly calling.
Faking an emergency call is illegal. It is also not known if the protesters “broke” police lines with phone calls.
D.C. police attempted to prevent the People’s Convoy from entering Washington by blocking highway exits into the city and blocking vehicles they thought were part of the convoy, to no avail.
Earlier this week, Senator Ted Cruz was seen supporting a convoy riding a shotgun in a truck and was later photographed with Brace thanking COVID-19 protesters for “standing up for every man, woman and child in America” .
U.S. Senator Ted Cruz joined the “People’s Convoy” trucker protest on Thursday as he rode a shotgun.
“Petty government tyrants should not force people to make decisions about private healthcare,” Cruz said as he rode with protesters who demonstrated against federal COVID-19 mandates like the Canadian Freedom Convoy.
The Texas Republican spent a day with truckers Friday, and video from the protest shows Cruz waving to fellow demonstrators as he thanks them for coming, while truckers yell loudly.
“Thank you to Convoy of the People for standing up for freedom,” Cruz said in a statement.
“Petty government tyrants should not force people to make decisions about private healthcare.”
Cruz also backed Braze, who said the protest was not just a Republican movement, but a demonstration by a wide range of Americans who want to remind the government that it works for the people.
“The time has come for the American people in the county … to stand up for your personal freedoms,” Braze told reporters Wednesday.