By John Matthews
WMAL.com
HAGERSTOWN, Md. (WMAL/AP) — A large group of truck drivers who object to COVID-19 mandates drove two loops around the Capital Beltway Sunday, deliberately moving slowly to impact traffic and make their feelings known to lawmakers in the nation’s capital.
Organizers of the “Peoples’ Convoy” say they will hit the road again Monday morning after 9:30 am, leaving from their base at the Hagerstown Speedway, and repeat a single loop, but in two lanes instead of one, driving at the minimum of 40 miles an hour in a bid to slow down traffic further. There are plans to repeat the action daily through at least Saturday.
On Sunday, people crowded onto overpasses, waving at the “People’s Convoy” and holding signs and American flags. Within the convoy, there were tractor-trailers with horns blaring and some recreational vehicles and pickup trucks occasionally going by, mixed with the normal traffic on the Beltway in Silver Spring.
The convoy was moving normally — albeit slowly — and while some congestion was noted, news outlets reported traffic was able to flow around the convoy. Many vehicles had American flags, while some flew Don’t Tread on Me banners.
“We’re not even sure we can call it a convoy anymore because it’s so dispersed among routine traffic at this point,” Virginia State Police spokeswoman Corinne Geller told The Washington Post
Protesters staged at the Hagerstown Speedway during the weekend before heading down a single lane of Interstate 270.
The convoy follows similar demonstrations by truckers in Canada who are upset at vaccine requirements to cross the Canadian border.
A video posted on Twitter showed trucks passing under a large American flag hoisted in the air by two cranes. Supporters stood along a road waving as the drivers left the speedway.
Officials with state police in Maryland and Virginia have said they will monitor the activities.
Authorities in the District of Columbia said Sunday they are monitoring demonstration activity that is expected to begin disrupting travel on roadways in and around the region. Most of the activity is expected to occur on the Beltway. Travelers were advised to consider alternate modes of transportation.
The Associated Press contributed content to this report.
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