A convoy of truckers protesting COVID-19 restrictions made its way to Washington, D.C., on Monday, adding to weekday traffic around the Capital Beltway and within the city in what appears to be the convoy’s biggest show of force yet.
Heavy traffic was reported on Interstate 495 and others in the National Capital Region throughout the day. The convoy made its way from Hagerstown, Maryland, where it had gathered for more than a week. The convoy made its way into Washington on the 14th Street Bridge on I-395, drove to I-695, and then crossed the Anacostia River in a return to the Beltway, the Washington Post reported.
In an attempt to control the situation, the Metropolitan Police Department closed multiple “streets and highway exits,” according to a statement from the city government. “These rolling road closures are occurring in real-time as they are needed, and will be lifted as soon as they are no longer necessary,” the statement concludes.
HONKING HORNS | A truck convoy is making noise as they drive along DC highways, adding to the traffic gridlock
READ MORE –> https://t.co/fBSKyjltXB pic.twitter.com/NRijOpDusJ
— 7News DC (@7NewsDC) March 14, 2022
Tractor-trailer trucks were seen decked out in American flags. Some, captured in videos posted to social media, engaged in a cacophony of honking.
OUT OF GAS? RALLY ATTRACTS HANDFUL OF PROTESTERS IN DC AFTER TRUCKER CONVOY DISBANDS
Law enforcement officials advised the public to expect traffic delays and closures as the convoy made its way back toward Hagerstown later in the day.
STAY OFF THE FREEWAY if you can avoid it. This has been going on for about hour now but @DCPoliceDept now confirms ramps are closed to traffic in the same direction the trucker convoy is moving in (toward 395 tunnel) to keep the truckers on the highway & off city streets. @fox5dc https://t.co/57kZtsBVih pic.twitter.com/XvrGTH5drP
— Stephanie Ramirez (@RamirezReports) March 14, 2022
One of the first trucker convoys that headed to Washington — this one from Scranton, Pennsylvania, ahead of President Joe Biden‘s State of the Union address — fizzled out before making its way to the city. But drivers have been gathering ever since. Other demonstrations around the Beltway have already taken place in the past week, though the turnout Monday appears to have been the biggest showing yet.
CLICK HERE TO READ MORE FROM THE WASHINGTON EXAMINER
The main trucker group, dubbed the People’s Convoy, was inspired by the Freedom Convoy, which gathered in the Canadian capital of Ottawa to protest COVID-19 mandates earlier this year.
After arriving in the area March 6 and circling the Beltway, one of the organizers, Brian Brase, said the group was “not going anywhere” until their message was heard.
Sen. Ted Cruz, a Texas Republican, met with the convoy organizers at the Hagerstown Speedway last week and rode shotgun in one of the trucks.
