Trucker Convoy Protests Could Create Havoc For DC, NoVA

WASHINGTON, DC/VA — Several groups are organizing convoys of truckers and their supporters to travel to Washington, D.C., in the next week in protest of measures taken by federal and state governments to prevent the spread of the coronavirus.

The arrival of the convoys in the D.C. area is expected to coincide with the State of the Union address on March 1 and follows a weekslong protest in Canada where truckers and their allies paralyzed the capital city of Ottawa.

An organizer of one of the truck convoys from Pennsylvania told Fox5 that his group plans to shut down the Capital Beltway.

"We will be along the Beltway where the Beltway will be shut down," Bob Bolus told Fox5 on Sunday. Bolus, who owns a truck parts and towing business in Scranton, said he plans to leave Pennsylvania on Wednesday morning, drive through D.C., then head to the Beltway.

Bolus, a supporter of former President Donald Trump, told Fox5 that his grievances range from fuel prices to school vaccine requirements to immigration.

The Arlington County Police Department said it is aware of the reports of potential trucker protests. The department is "monitoring and will work collaboratively with our regional law enforcement partners to ensure public safety," the ACPD said in an email to Patch.

In Fairfax County, the police department said Tuesday that it is "continuing to monitor the potential convoy coming to the Capital region and work with our regional partners to ensure the roadways remain safe for our community members."

Last Friday, the U.S. Capitol Police said law enforcement agencies across the D.C. area are aware of plans for a series of truck convoys to arrive in the area around the time of the State of the Union address.

“The USCP is closely coordinating with local, state and federal law enforcement agencies, including DC’s Metropolitan Police Department, the United States Park Police, the United States Secret Service and other allied agencies to include the DC National Guard,” the U.S. Capitol Police said.

The police plan to add fencing around the U.S. Capitol ahead of President Joe Biden’s speech. The Capitol Police also said the creation of “temporary inner-perimeter” at the Capitol remains an option but that no decision has been made at this time.

Police fenced in the Capitol in the wake of the insurrection and attack on the Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021. The perimeter fence remained in place until the following July.

Kyle Sefcik, one of the organizers of Freedom Convoy USA 2022, said a convoy of trucks and motorcycles will begin in Los Angeles this upcoming Friday before making its way through the Midwest and arriving in D.C. in time for Biden's address March 1.

"We want to be there for that and tell the president we’re here," Sefcik told WUSA9. "This doesn’t even need to happen. If the president said, 'Mandates are over and the state of emergency is over. Let’s get back to the world and let’s do our thing,' then we’re not even coming.”

Sefcik said trucks and motorcycles will stop near the White House, while Christian bands and pastors speak near the Washington Monument.

Another group, The People’s Convoy, said reporters from right-wing news outlets such as Newsmax and Epoch Times will be "embedding" in its convoy to provide live daily updates. The People's Convoy is scheduled to arrive in the D.C. area on March 5.

As the groups make plans to travel to D.C., COVID-19 restrictions are being lifted across the country. Last week, D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser dropped the city’s requirement that people show proof of coronavirus vaccination before entering many businesses in the city.

The mask requirement for indoor spaces in D.C. is to be lifted on March 1. On that date, masks will no longer be required at restaurants and bars, sports and entertainment venues, gyms, recreation centers, indoor athletic facilities, houses of worship, businesses, grocery stores and pharmacies, retail establishments.

D.C. police are preparing for the protests, placing 500 officers on civil disturbance units daily starting Wednesday, Fox5 reported.

"There will be disruptions to traffic, that kind of thing," D.C. Police Chief Robert Contee said. "I think we need to be very candid with the public about some of the expectations based upon what we've seen in Ottawa."

This article originally appeared on the Falls Church Patch