Trucker Convoy In VA, DC: When And Where It Is Going

VIRGINIA — A convoy of truckers and other vehicles protesting President Biden's coronavirus state of emergency, and many mandates that have recently lifted, circled the Washington, D.C., metro twice on Sunday via the Capital Beltway before the drive ended for the day.

Organizers of the self-styled People's Convoy plan a repeat of the rolling drive on Monday, the Washington Post reported.

The aim of the demonstration on wheels is to be a “huge pain,” but the Post's reporters following the drivers said few problems and no accidents were caused by the trucker convoy on Sunday.

The group left Hagerstown in western Maryland Sunday morning, bound for Interstate 495, and returned to Hagerstown late in the day. WJLA reported some of the truck convoy members reached Virginia on I-495 by midday Sunday.

The Virginia Department of Transportation told drivers to anticipate heavy traffic and delays throughout the day.

After the convoy made its second circuit of D.C.’s Beltway Sunday afternoon, drivers headed west on the outer loop of Interstate 495 for Interstate 270 en route to Hagerstown Speedway in Maryland.

The vehicles in the convoy have stayed in one lane and spaced out while driving under the speed limit, WTOP’s Valerie Bonk reported.

Modeled after the Freedom Convoy that blockaded downtown Ottawa for three weeks in protest of vaccine mandates in Canada, the U.S. protesters say they are against government overreach.

Some people reported seeing the convoy on I-495 near Tysons Corner after noon, with flags flying from trucks.

"Please use caution and expect delays in reaching your destination," D.C. emergency officials advised in a statement before noon. "If possible, consider alternate modes of transportation to include using Metrorail. The Metropolitan Police Department may need to close certain roads in order to minimize the impacts of these demonstrations."

One group of truckers and its allies called the People's Convoy says it wants to end the federal proclamation of a national emergency due to COVID-19. Some members embarked from California on Feb. 23 on a cross-country trip that is now culminating near D.C.

Convoy organizer Brian Brase has repeatedly said the drivers will not enter the District, but they plan to increase the number of trips around the Beltway each day to pressure lawmakers and other leaders, the Post said.

Groups staged at the Hagerstown Speedway Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights before heading to the Capital Beltway on Sunday. With cars, trucks and other vehicles participating, organizers told WUSA that it could take two hours to get out of the parking lot of the Hagerstown Speedway before making two slow laps around the D.C. Beltway in the middle of the day.

A group called the American Truckers Freedom Convoy planned a tailgate party at Dominion Raceway in Thornburg Sunday.

See Also:

• Truck Convoy Threatens To Clog DC Area Roads Over Weekend
• People's Convoy: Truckers Leave CA For DC To Protest COVID Rules