On Monday, Congressman Jim Banks (R-IN) lent his support to the Freedom Convoy, a collection of thousands of truck drivers protesting COVID-19 vaccine mandates by forming a chain of truckers spanning hundreds of miles. The group reached the Canadian capital of Ottawa, Ontario, on Saturday and sparked international support and inspiration. Based on reports, the Freedom Convoy does not plan on leaving anytime soon — and the United States could see its own version spanning from California to Washington, D.C.
As The Daily Wire reported earlier on Monday, videos show just how massive the Freedom Convoy 2022 rally in Ottawa truly is as thousands of truck drivers and non-truck drivers alike showed from daylight through the night to protest against the Canadian government’s vaccine mandates.
“Those mandates would force unvaccinated Canadian truckers crossing into the United States to quarantine once they’ve returned home,” The Daily Wire noted.
“Incredible scenes in Ottawa, where tens of thousands have gathered to protest for an end to COVID lies and mandates,” one Twitter used shared alongside a video:
Incredible scenes in Ottawa, where tens of thousands have gathered to protest for an end to COVID lies and mandates.pic.twitter.com/ioH2TM5Y4o
— Michael P Senger (@MichaelPSenger) January 29, 2022
In America, one Facebook group with more than 103,000 members is calling for a similar protest going coast-to-coast in the continental U.S.
Earlier, The Daily Wire reported that drawing on inspiration “from their northern colleagues, a Facebook group named ‘Convoy to DC’ is calling upon all truckers in the United States to form a nationwide chain of semi-trucks and other vehicles in protest of COVID-19 vaccine mandates.”
“We are part of many large groups who believe in our founding fathers,” Convoy to DC stated in its “About” section on its Facebook page. “We believe everyone has a voice. We support our freedom. Help us spread the word about this group and together we all can make it a better place. God Bless America.”
On Sunday, The Daily Wire reported that in Canada, the convoy of truckers arrived in Ottawa for a protest attended by tens of thousands of people. Videos online of the protest showed thousands of people marching through Ottawa in support of the movement.
In response, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau reportedly went into hiding, announcing days later that he had tested positive for COVID-19. The Daily Wire also reported last week that Trudeau had not been supportive of the Freedom Convoy, calling them “fringe”:
“The small, fringe minority of people who are on their way to Ottawa, who are holding unacceptable views that they are expressing, do not represent the views of Canadians who have been there for each other, who know that following the science and stepping up to protect each other is the best way to continue to ensure our freedoms, our rights, our values as a country,” Trudeau said.
But while the Canadian prime minister isn’t a fan of these protests, the chair of the Republican Study Committee certainly is a supporter.
“Society would come to a screeching halt without truckers,” Banks tweeted. “They are backbone of our supply chain and should not be subjected to authoritarian mandates,” Banks tweeted. “I stand with the truckers! #HONKHONK”
Society would come to a screeching halt without truckers. They are backbone of our supply chain and should not be subjected to authoritarian mandates.
I stand with the truckers!
#HONKHONK— Jim Banks (@RepJimBanks) January 31, 2022