The fencing around the U.S. Capitol is back up, police are stationed at major intersections and highways in Washington DC and the National Guard on standby ahead of President Joe Biden’s Tuesday evening State of the Union address, but the People’s Convoy is still rallying through the midwest.
Federal authorities beefed up security in the area after dozens of trucker convoys announced plans to gather in the capital city and protest coronavirus restrictions, including one group that threatened to shut down a major interstate.
However, after at least two of the announced trucker convoys have fizzled due to to a lack of participation, it is unclear if any of the anti-vaccine protesters will arrive in time for the president’s annual address to Congress.
The largest truck caravan, the eight-mile long, 100-vehicle People’s Convoy, rallied in Missouri overnight and plans to continue its trek through Illinois Tuesday, despite a harsh warning from state police discouraging protesters and threatening legal action for traffic disruptions.
Modeled after recent trucker protests in Canada that shut down border crossings into the U.S., the People’s Convoy has called on Biden to end the national emergency originally declared at the start of the pandemic, as well as any remaining coronavirus mandates. The truckers allege the government has infringed upon their constitutional rights with the mandates.
The People’s Convoy – which has raised more than $1.5million in donations made through its own website – has sworn not to disrupt roads or bridges and organizers have promised a ‘100% safe, lawful and peaceful journey’ that will ‘terminate in the vicinity of the D.C. area, but will NOT be going into D.C. proper.’
The group is scheduled to arrive in the greater D.C. area on Saturday.
ST. ROBERT, MISSOURI – FEBRUARY 28: The People’s Convoy will depart Missouri on Tuesday morning and continue its trek to Washington D.C. by traveling through Illinois, despite warning from state police threatening legal action
WASHINGTON D.C. – FEBRUARY 28: Federal authorities had prepared for trucker protests ahead of President Joe Biden’s Tuesday night State of the Union Address. The fencing around the U.S. Capitol is back up, police are stationed at major intersections and highways in the area and the National Guard on standby
However, the largest group of protesters – The People’s Convoy – is not slated to arrive in the capital city until Saturday, March 5
CUBA, MISSOURI – FEBRUARY 28: The largest truck caravan, the eight-mile long, 100-vehicle People’s Convoy, rallied in Missouri Monday night
CUBA, MISSOURI – FEBRUARY 28: The People’s Convoy – which has raised more than $1.5million in donations made through its own website – has called on President Joe Biden to end the national emergency originally declared at the start of the pandemic, as well as any remaining coronavirus mandates
CUBA, MISSOURI – FEBRUARY 28: The truckers allege the government has infringed upon their constitutional rights with the COVID-19 era mandates
The People’s Convoy – which embarked from California last week on an 11-day trek to Washington D.C. – will depart Missouri early Tuesday morning and begin its route to Indianapolis, Indiana by traveling along the Dan Ryan Expressway in Illinois.
Illinois State Police Division of Patrol Col. Margaret McGreal has warned the protesters officials will take action against any participants who violate state law and endanger citizens.
‘A planned event designed to impede normal traffic flow is dangerous to the innocent motoring public,’ McGreal told WGN. ‘Those who choose to participate in events that intentionally endanger the public and violate Illinois law will be subject to the enforcement of applicable laws and could potentially be held liable for traffic crashes occurring as a result of their actions.’
Kris Young, who is the admin for the People Convoy’s Facebook page, reiterated the group will continue it’s route through the Prairie State regardless of the warning.
‘We encourage the people of this state to come out and show your support and/or join us!!’ she wrote earlier this week.
Convoy supporters have taken to Twitter, slamming Illinois law enforcement as being hypocritical in its response to the protest after state troopers shut down the same motorway for a Black Lives Matter protest in 2020.
‘Illinois is a People’s Convoy no-go zone,’ tweeted Dan Proft. ‘ISP on the #BlackLivesMatter protest in Aug. ’20 that shut down the Dan Ryan Xway: “We have been in contact with the protest organizers to set up a safe route of travel…will protect the rights of those seeking to peacefully protest.”‘
‘Welcome to Illinois! The Land of Communism,’ echoed Erin Geary.
‘Utterly sickening. The rank and file tend to be good. But ISP/CPD leadership is complacent. We support the police and they shut down peaceful protests. No good deed goes unpunished,’ added Matt McKeon.
CUBA, MISSOURI – FEBRUARY 28: The People’s Convoy held a rally at a truck stop in Cuba, Missouri Monday night. Former Missouri Governor Eric Greitens (right) spoke to the crowd
FORT LEONARD, MISSOURI – FEBRUARY 28: The convoy will leave Missouri on Tuesday and head to Indiana, driving through Illinois. Illinois State Police Division of Patrol Col. Margaret McGreal has warned the protesters officials will take action against any participants who violate state law and endanger citizens
CUBA, MISSOURI – FEBRUARY 28: Convoy supporters (pictured at Monday night’s rally in Missouri) have accused Illinois law enforcement of being hypocritical in its response to the protest, citing how state troopers shut down the same motorway for a Black Lives Matter protest in 2020
CUBA, MISSOURI – FEBRUARY 28: A semi traveling with the People’s Convoy is pictured at a truck stop in Missouri. Based on its ‘Freedom Convoy 2022’ sign, it is probable this truck was originally traveling with the now-disbanded Freedom Convoy USA group. At least one other announced trucker convoys has fizzled due to to a lack of participation
CUBA, MISSOURI – FEBRUARY 28: A truck displaying a collection of flags, including campaign flags for former President Donald Trump, attended the rally in Missouri
CUBA, MISSOURI – FEBRUARY 28: A crowd of supporters stood along the interstate waving American flags as the People’s Convoy arrived in Cuba, Missouri on Monday
Meanwhile, Washington D.C. remains on high-alert despite there being no specific or credible threats related to Biden’s Tuesday night speech.
Law enforcement officials have taken extra precautions ahead of the event. citing the trucker convoys and concern for an event similar to that of Jan. 6, 2021, when a mob of supporters of former President Donald Trump successfully stormed the Capitol, briefly disrupting the certification of the 2020 election.
Federal investigators have been monitoring online chatter surrounding the State of the Union address and the trucker protests.
U.S. Capitol Police Chief Thomas Manger said Sunday the fencing that was erected around the Capitol grounds was put up ‘out of an abundance of caution.’ The fencing was last erected after the Capitol insurrection and remained up for several months.
Del. Eleanor Holmes Norton, Washington’s non-voting delegate in the House of Representatives, has said she doesn’t want the fence to stay up indefinitely this time.
‘I will ensure that the fencing comes down as soon as possible to restore freedom of movement for District of Columbia residents and the general public,’ Norton penned in a statement last week.
Capitol Police have also requested additional assistance from outside law enforcement agencies before Tuesday’s address, as well as help from the National Guard. Metropolitan Police Department Chief Robert Contee said Monday that his department is closely monitoring the shifting information and would be devoting additional policing in a rolling state of heightened alert over the next few weeks.
‘We regularly handle peaceful demonstrations and welcome all to the nation’s capital to exercise their First Amendment rights,’ Contee said. But he warned that the multiple security departments were ‘prepared to take swift law-enforcement actions for violations of our local and federal laws, if necessary.’
WASHINGTON D.C. – FEBRUARY 28: Meanwhile, Washington D.C. remains on high-alert Tuesday despite there being no specific or credible threats related to Biden’s State of the Union speech
WASHINGTON D.C. – FEBRUARY 28: Capitol Police have also requested additional assistance from outside law enforcement agencies before Tuesday’s address, as well as help from the National Guard. A Guard vehicle seen along the city streets
WASHINGTON D.C. – FEBRUARY 28: Law enforcement officials have taken extra precautions ahead of the event. citing the trucker convoys and concern for an event similar to that of Jan. 6, 2021, when a mob of supporters of former President Donald Trump successfully stormed the Capitol, briefly disrupting the certification of the 2020 election
VINITA, OKLAHOMA – FEBRUARY 28: However, the People’s Convoy has sworn not to disrupt roads or bridges and organizers have promised a ‘100% safe, lawful and peaceful journey’ that will ‘terminate in the vicinity of the D.C. area, but will NOT be going into D.C. proper’
CUBA, MISSOURI – FEBRUARY 28: The People’s Convoy is scheduled to arrive in the greater D.C. area on Saturday
CUBA, MISSOURI – FEBRUARY 28: Convoy supporters are seen waving American and Blue Lives Matter flags as the convoy rolls through Missouri on Monday
CUBA, MISSOURI – FEBRUARY 28: The People’s Convoy holds a rally in Missouri
Bob Bolus, who led a small convoy out of Scranton, Pennsylvania, had promised to shut down the Beltway and other roads leading into and out of D.C. ahead of the State of the Union speech, but had not disclosed how he intended to do so.
When asked about it last week, he told reporters his convoy was ‘not going to cause a traffic problem any more than [D.C. residents] live with every single day.’
However, his overhyped convoy – which was advertised as having at least 50 participants – only contained eight vehicles, including organizer Bolus’ semi.
The organizer has since backtracked and says although he still has hopes of disrupting the Beltway someday, he will not attempt to interfere with traffic.
‘We’re not putting a chokehold on D.C. today,’ Bolus told the Daily Beast last Thursday. ‘Not to say that it wouldn’t happen in the very near future. It’s just going to be an idea of what’s to come.’
He did not his convoy will ‘peacefully’ sit in Beltway traffic without attempting to cause any backup.
‘We’re going to go with the flow. Today we’re going to go with the flow of traffic,’ he said. ‘If they go at two miles an hour, we will be at two miles an hour.’
It remains unclear if Bolus and his convoy are still planning to assemble outside the Capitol Tuesday night or if the group even reached D.C.
Multiple reports indicated that Bolus hit many roadblocks along the way, including a flat tire and getting lost along his route.
The trucker has not yet responded to DailyMail.com’s outreach, nor has he provided any updates about his protest on social media.
