Trucker convoy DC - live: Protester claims trucks will choke DC ‘like giant boa constrictor’ ahead of SOTU
Protest convoy groups heading to DC area between today and 6 March
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Up to 800 National Guard troops are expected to be deployed ahead of President Joe Biden’s State of the Union address, amid fears over the protest convoy of truckers heading to Washington DC for the event.
Mayor Muriel Bowser and the Pentagon confirmed that National Guard personnel have been requested to “provide support at traffic control points in and around the District” and to be alert for “possible disruption at key traffic arteries”.
However, no decision to the deployment or number of troops had yet been made, he said.
Several groups are reportedly planning different protests on different routes to Washington DC this week and into March, with several convoy maps and itineraries shared on social media.
Law enforcement agencies in Maryland, Virginia, and the nation’s capital are monitoring potential demonstrations, and security around the US Capitol is ramping up around Mr Biden’s SOTU address, planned for 1 March, while there are fears that some protests may attempt to disrupt the event.
One organiser of the People’s Convoy from Scranton, Pennsylvania, told a local Fox News station the convoy would be like “a giant boa constrictor ... that basically squeezes you, chokes you and it swallows you”.
“That’s what we’re going to do DC.”
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Largest convoy group lists six routes
The largest of the three organised convoy groups (in addition to the Scranton convoy and People’s Convoy out of southern California) has six different routes listed on its website.
The American Truckers Freedom Convoy lists two convoy routes setting off on 1 March — one from Spokane, Washington, and one from Weatherford, Texas.
On 2 March, another group will set off from Fresno, California.
A fourth group departs Minot, North Dakota, on 3 March.
On 6 March as the other groups near Washington, DC, two more convoys will set off from Cleveland, Ohio, and Columbus, Ohio.
All aim to arrive in the capital region later on 6 March.
Scranton convoy sets off for DC
Today’s convoy from Scranton, Pennsylvania, to the capital region, organised by Bob Bolus has set off from the staging point to meet other truckers near Pitton, Pennsylvania.
The People’s Convoy route
Also departing today for the long drive to Washington, DC, is The People’s Convoy, which will depart from the Adelanto Stadium, approximately 80 miles northeast of Los Angeles at midday PST (3pm ET).
They intend to follow a route taking them through Kingman and Lupton in Arizona, Glenrio in Texas, Elk City and Vinita in Oklahoma, and Sullivan in Missouri, before heading to Indianapolis, then Cambridge, Ohio, and Hagerstown, Maryland.
The convoy intends to arrive in the DC region on 5 March.
Poor turnout for first convoy en route to DC
Not a great start for the convoys, Bob Bolus’ group currently consists of his 18-wheeler truck, 2 pick up trucks, and about seven SUVs or sedans, according to Julio-César Chávez of Reuters TV.
Mr Bolus had claimed to have 25 trucks heading to DC.
Also in the Bolus ‘convoy’: America’s Flag Truck
Writer Arieh Kovler spotted that one of the Bolus convoy vehicles is America’s Flag Truck, which features a prominent QAnon flag, and apparently has its own Facebook group.
What we know about possible trucker protests coming to Washington DC
An online movement among American groups to replicate the “Freedom Convoy” that gripped Ottawa, Ontario is eyeing Washington DC and routes into the nation’s capital to protest pandemic restrictions.
The “trucker convoy” protests in Canada, elevated from relatively small right-wing trucker groups protesting perceived liberal overreach, spread through organising and sharing news in Facebook groups and Telegram channels, which circulated across more mainstream social media platforms and has been amplified and expanded by right-wing broadcasters.
Momentum spread across American conspiracy communities and other groups hoping to leverage the movement for similar protests in the US.
Alex Woodward reports.
What we know about possible trucker protests coming to Washington DC
‘Freedom convoys’ across US aim to replicate Canada demonstrations that gripped Ontario
Bolus claims to be leading much bigger convoy
NBC Washington anchor and transportation reporter Adam Tuss has just spoken by phone with Bob Bolus, who claims he is leading a convoy of 40-50 vehicles and will not be planning to shut down traffic today.
He will instead go with the flow of Beltway traffic.
Everything we know about Joe Biden’s State of the Union address
US President Joe Biden will give his first State of the Union address to Congress on the evening of Tuesday, 1 March after accepting the customary formal invitation for that date from House Speaker Nancy Pelosi.
Article Two of the US Constitution requires every occupant of the White House to “give to the Congress information of the State of the Union, and recommend to their consideration such measures as he shall judge necessary and expedient”.
Joe Sommerlad runs through what we know so far about the president’s speech, as worries persist that there may be protests on the day.
Everything we know about Joe Biden’s first State of the Union address
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Update on the People’s Convoy, due to set off soon
Ben Collins of NBC News is reporting from Adelanto, California, where The People’s Convoy is soon to depart.
He reports there are about a dozen semis and a couple of hundred people milling about.
There is music playing and people holding placards about the alleged origins of Covid-19.
Collins reports that the plan on the first day of the convoy is to drive to a pizza store in a small town in Arizona — though apparently, not everyone has committed to even going that far.
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