The ‘people’s convoy’ of around 1,000 vehicles threaten a week of traffic disruptions around US capital
Photograph: Leah Millis/ReutersPhotograph: Leah Millis/ReutersA long line of huge semi-articulated trucks, recreational vehicles and cars was circling, on Sunday, in preparation for what their protesting drivers have pledged will be a week of traffic disruption around the US capital aligned around a loose collection of demands, including the end to all coronavirus pandemic-related restrictions.
As it has made its way east, it has picked up similarly mobile, ideologically-aligned, fellow-travelers along the way. Some participants said the destination was reason enough to make the trek. At the speedway on Friday night, one participant who described himself as the lead trucker told a cheering crowd he would drive his truck into the heart of the American capital.
And that in turn became part of the January 6 insurrection riot at the US Capitol by extremist supporters of Trump, the then Republican president, as they tried to overturn the official certification by the US Congress of Democrat Joe Biden’s presidential victory. The US Department of Homeland Security has said it is coordinating with local authorities to prepare for the convoy’s arrival and warning that the truckers could hinder emergency services.