On March 10, Senator Ted Cruz (R-TX) demonstrated his support for the People’s Convoy by joining the group for a ceremonial daily lap on the Washington, D.C. Beltway.
The People’s Convoy, a massive caravan of big rigs, pickup trucks, and passenger vehicles, departed from southern California in February with its sights set on encircling Washington D.C. The group’s goal was to force lawmakers to rescind mandates and restrictions relating to the coronavirus pandemic.
Cruz joined the People’s Convoy Thursday and rode shotgun in one of the lead trucks, waving to protesters and reveling in the horn-honking and flag-waving.
“Your voice is being heard,” Cruz said while speaking to attendees. “What the men and women want here is for the government to leave you the hell alone. That is the most American sentiment you could imagine.”
While the convoy initially set out to force an end to mandates and restrictions that impact American workers, many of the initial goals the group sought to achieve have already begun to come into effect. Several states are in the process of rolling back masking requirements, and a recent Supreme Court decision barred the Biden administration from enforcing a vaccine requirement on U.S. employers.
The convoy has been accused of aiming to cause traffic disruptions and potentially incite problems. However, organizer Bill Blase, an Ohio-based truck driver, has stated publicly that participants would not be entering the Washington D.C.-area proper.
“If you deviate from the plan, meaning you decide to break rank and bring your happy butts down to D.C. … you are not representing the People’s Convoy in doing that,” he said. “Do not do that. Stick to the plan.”
Both Blase and Cruz expressed criticism of national news media they believe have falsely represented the Convoy’s mission.
Among the outlets that fit the bill for such accusations is Vice, which reported that the People’s Convoy intended to “make life a living hell” for D.C. residents as in Canada, and neglected to capitalize the movement’s name in an alleged effort to demean the messaging.
Many media outlets previously voiced questions regarding the motives and results of the movement’s inspiration, the Canadian Freedom Convoy. Some claim the protests in Canada evolved beyond their stated purpose into an anti-government or even pro-separatist movement, while others went so far as to call the demonstration an armed seizure and occupation of the country’s center.
The People’s Convoy has yet to declare an end date for its demonstration in D.C., and will continue to make daily laps around the Beltway. The truckers are using a nearby raceway as a staging ground, which is available to them until at least March 19, when track organizers will begin preparations for the upcoming racing season that starts the following week.
