Watch a live feed of the convoy from Chopper4 in the player above.
Members of a truck convoy are moving through the suburbs of Washington, D.C., Sunday, with a long line of cars and semitrucks driving along the Beltway in protest of COVID-19 mandates.
Chopper4 spotted congestion on the Outer Loop of the Beltway, but no unusually significant delays were reported by 1:40 p.m.
Onlookers with flags and signs stood on overpasses watching demonstrators passing through the Rockville, Maryland, area, heading toward Interstate 495.
Our news partners at WTOP report that it took the length of the main convoy about 35 minutes to drive past a spot near Clarksburg Premium Outlets and many police officers were spotted nearby. Drivers are now on the Outer Loop of the Beltway.
> FOCUSING ON THE WARM SUNSHINE. THANK YOU, MICHELLE. THANK YOU, MICHELLE. HUNDREDS OF TRUCKS, PART OF A HUNDREDS OF TRUCKS, PART OF A NATIONAL CONVOY ARE PREPARING TO DESCEND ON OUR AREA. DESCEND ON OUR AREA. >> WILL THEY OR WONu2019T THEY? THE PEOPLEu2019S CONVOY HAS BEEN MAKING ITS WAY ACROSS THE COUNTRY TO PROTEST MASK AND VACCINE MANDATES. THEY PLANNED TO DRIVE ONTO THE BELTWAY YESTERDAY, BUT REMAINED STAGED IN HAGERSTOWN. A SPOKESPERSON SAY THEY SAY THEY PLAN TO CIRCLE THE THEY SAY THEY PLAN TO CIRCLE THE BELTWAY TODAY, BUT PLANS ARE NOT FINALIZED. SHE SAYS THEY HAVE BEEN WORKING WITH STATE AND LOCAL LAW ENFORCEMENT TO DETERMINE THE BEST TIME TO TRAVEL. WE CAUGHT UP WITH SOME OF THE CONVOY PARTICIPANTS YESTERDAY AND ASKED THEM WHY THEY ARE TAKING PART. >> IT HAS TAKEN A WEEK TO GET HERE. WE HAVE BEEN FOLLOWING CARS AND WE HAVE BEEN FOLLOWING CARS AND SEMIS AND EVERY KIND OF VEHICLE YOU CAN IMAGINE. >> ITu2019S WORTH IT. WE ARE TALKING ABOUT THE FUTURE OF AMERICA MUCH WHAT WOULDNu2019T OF AMERICA MUCH WHAT WOULDNu2019T YOU DO TO SAVE THAT. >> IT IS ESTIMATED TO HAVE HUNDREDS OF VEHICLES RANGING FROM SEMIS TO STANDARD SIZE CARS. LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES SAY”,”video_id”:”2009939011714_307″,”video_length”:”75443″,”video_provider”:”mpx”,”short_video_excerpt”:””,”mpx_download_pid_mobile_low”:”Y9mj7sI9Qrsp”,”pid_streaming_web_mobile_low”:””,”mpx_download_pid_mobile_standard”:”up9m_KmcIkGQ”,”pid_streaming_mobile_standard”:”J3nKHwSlYx_c”,”alleypack_schedule_unpublish”:””,”feed_remote_id”:”mpx_2009939011714″,”feed_thumbnail_url”:””}” data-livestream=”false” data-title=”Truck Convoy Leaves Hagerstown, Plans to Protest on Capital Beltway” data-vidcid=”1:14:2991567″ data-vidurl=”https://www.nbcwashington.com/news/local/truck-convoy-protest-organizer-says-plan-is-to-circle-beltway-sunday/2991567/” data-islead=”false” data-catnames=”{“223863″:”News”,”569″:”Local”}” data-tagnames=”{“282914″:”dc protests”,”432447″:”truck convoy”}” data-customdata=”{“ContentPartner”:”None”,”Source”:”WEBFM”,”SyndicationAllowed”:”true”,”mSNVideoCategories”:”MSN Video v4 Connector-most watched news”,”mSNVideoContentSupplierID”:”NBC_Local”,”mSNVideoCountry”:”us”,”subtitle”:”nosubtitle”,”uploadedByTeam”:”1″,”youtubeChannel”:”None”}” data-autoplay=”false” data-cplay=”true”>
A trucker convoy spotted in Hagerstown, Maryland, is expected to make its way to the Capital Beltway in protest of COVID-19 mandates as soon as Sunday.
Organizers say the People’s Convoy group planned to circle the Capital Beltway twice on Sunday then return to Hagerstown, where the group began gathering Friday.
Maryland State Police said troopers are deployed to address any violations of law.
“Law enforcement personnel are working to maintain the flow of traffic and alleviate congestion” as the convoy travels around the region, Maryland State Police said.
D.C. officials said the convoy is expected to cause some traffic delays and that the Metropolitan Police Department may close roads to minimize impact.
“Beltway here we come,” the group said in a Facebook post Sunday morning. A long line of vehicles departed from the Hagerstown Speedway, then drove to the D.C. area via Interstates including 81 and 270.
It’s unclear how disruptive the protests may be. Officials in D.C., Maryland and Virginia have said they are monitoring potential demonstrations and brought in extra resources to assist.
> Announcer: NEWS4 AT 11 STARTS NOW. >>> A LARGE CONVOY OF TRUCKERS IS NOW STAGED IN HAGUERSTOWN, MARYLAND. AND OUR AREA IS BRACING TO SEE NEXT. THANKS FOR JOINING US TONIGHT. Iu2019M ERIKA GONZALEZ. LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES ACROSS THE DMV BRINGING IN EXTRA RESOURCES AND MONITORING THE SITUATION CLOSELY. HUNDREDS OF VEHICLES ARE NOW PART OF THE PEOPLEu2019S CONVOY PROTESTING MASK AND VACCINE MANDATE. NEWS4 HAS MORE ON HOW THIS COULD IMPACT TRAFFIC TOMORROW AND IN THE COMING DAYS. >>> MILES OF TRUCKS POSSIBLY HEADED THE OUR AREA. HEADED THE OUR AREA. BUT SO FAR NO TRAFFIC JAMS YET. THE PEOPLEu2019S CONVOY ARE NOW IN HAGUERSTOWN. >> I WANTED TO BE INVOLVED. >> IT TASHAS TAKEN A WEEK TO GET HERE. FOLLOWING ALL THE CARS AND SEMIS AND EVERY VEHICLE YOU CAN IMAGINE. WE WANT THE GOVERNMENT TO RUR THEY WORK FOR US. >> Reporter: THE GROUP SAYS THEY WILL STAY IN HIGERSTOWN THROUGH AMONGR MONDAY MORNING. IT IS UNDECIDED WHAT THEY WILL DO NEXT. THEY DO NOT PLAN TO SHUT DOWN THE BELTWAY. >> I WANTED TO BE SOMETHING TO DO FOR THIS COUNTRY. I AM SO SICK OF THIS CRUD. >> IT IS WORTH IT. I MEAN WE ARE TALKING ABOUT THE FUTURE OF AMERICA. WHAT WOULDNu2019T YOU DO TO SAVE THAT. >> Reporter: LOCAL LAW ENFORCEMENT SAY THEY ARE AWARE OF THE SITUATION. MEANTIME, THE CONVOY SAID THEY MEANTIME, THE CONVOY SAID THEY WOULD LIKE TO SEE AN END TO THE STATE OF EMERGENCY SURROUNDING COVID. 700 NATIONAL GUARD TROOPS ARE AVAILABLE TO HELP WITH TRAFFIC CONTROL IF NEEDED. >>> >> THE MESSAGE TRUCKERS HAVE BEEN RALLYING AROUND HAS BEEN SOMEWHAT UNDERCUT IN RECENT”,”video_id”:”2009897027572_462″,”video_length”:”134935″,”video_provider”:”mpx”,”short_video_excerpt”:””,”mpx_download_pid_mobile_low”:”4D_rU8m33TPB”,”pid_streaming_web_mobile_low”:””,”mpx_download_pid_mobile_standard”:”09AXUDO1br_C”,”pid_streaming_mobile_standard”:”CEI20rlEcAn7″,”alleypack_schedule_unpublish”:””,”feed_remote_id”:”mpx_2009897027572″,”feed_thumbnail_url”:””}” data-livestream=”false” data-title=”Trucker Convoy, Supporters Staged in Hagerstown” data-vidcid=”1:14:2991475″ data-vidurl=”https://www.nbcwashington.com/news/local/trucker-convoy-supporters-staged-in-hagerstown/2991475/” data-islead=”false” data-catnames=”{“223863″:”News”,”569″:”Local”,”619″:”U.S. & World”}” data-tagnames=”{“4928″:”Hagerstown”,”432447″:”truck convoy”}” data-customdata=”{“ContentPartner”:”None”,”Source”:”WEBFM”,”SyndicationAllowed”:”true”,”mSNVideoCategories”:”MSN Video v4 Connector-most watched news”,”mSNVideoContentSupplierID”:”NBC_Local”,”mSNVideoCountry”:”us”,”subtitle”:”nosubtitle”,”uploadedByTeam”:”1″,”youtubeChannel”:”None”}” data-autoplay=”false” data-cplay=”true”>
News4’s Aimee Cho reports as the D.C. area braces to see what happens next.
Virginia State Police said officers are prepared for potential convoys in the Capital region and will try to mitigate impacts on traffic. The Maryland State Highway Administration warned drivers about congestion.
The People’s Convoy group “has been working with local and state law enforcement to find the best time to travel,” spokesperson Lynne Kristensen said.
The D.C. area is the last publicized stop for the People’s Convoy, which drove across the country to protest against COVID-19-related mandates.
“I mean, this is talking about the future of America,” one protester said. “What wouldn’t you do to save that?”
The convoy picked up hundreds of cars and several trucks since the group left a rural parking lot in Adelanto, California, on Feb. 22, NBC News reported.
>> AND WE BEGIN TONIGHT WITH THIS LONG LINE OF TRUCKS. ALL OF THEM PREPARING TO MAKE THEIR WAY TO THE D.C. REGION FOR A PROTEST. HI, EVERYBODY, Iu2019M JIM HANDLER. >> AND Iu2019M ERICA GONZALES, CHOPPER 4 SHOWS VIDEOS OF TRUCKS ON THE STREETS TONIGHT BEFORE COMING TO DC TONIGHT, TRUCKS ARE MEETING UP TONIGHT IN WASHINGTON MEETING UP TONIGHT IN WASHINGTON COUNTY, GATHERING AT THE HAGERS TOWN SPEED WAY. >> CONVOY INCLUDES DRIVERS WHOSE TRIPS BEGAN LAST MONTH ON THE WEST COAST. NEWS 4 SHAMARI STONE IN TOWN FOR US TONIGHT, SHOWS US WHATu2019S HAPPENING NOW AND WHATu2019S COMING OUR WAY TOMORROW. >> Reporter: RIGHT NOW IN HAGERS TOWN MARYLAND, ON NATIONAL PIKE AND THE TRUCKERu2019S CONVOY PICKED UP OTHER PEOPLE, HUNDREDS OF UP OTHER PEOPLE, HUNDREDS OF PEOPLE IN TRUCKS, CARS AND PICK-UPS. TRUCKER FOUR HOVERS OVER HAGERS TOWN, THE TRUCKER CONVOY CALLED THE PEOPLES CONVOY ARRIVED AS THE PEOPLES CONVOY ARRIVED AS FAR AWAY AS CALIFORNIA. WHY ARE YOU PROTESTING? >> I WANT TO END MANDATES. >> Reporter: CORY PALONIC AND HUNDREDS OF DRIVERS STAGING IN HAGERS TOWN THE NIGHT BEFORE THEY DRIVE TO THE DC AREA TO PROTEST COVID RESTRICTIONS. >> I WANT THE GOVERNMENT TO KNOW THIS IS NOT OKAY. >> Reporter: DCu2019S HOMELAND SECURITY DEPARTMENT SAYS THE CONVOY COULD DISRUPT TRAFFIC AROUND THE DISTRICT THIS WEEKEND. >> WE EXPECT TO SEE SOME IMPACTS FROM THE CONVOYS AS EARLY AS TOMORROW, YOU KNOW, THE NUMBERS OF TRUCKS AND WHERE THEYu2019RE GOING AND HOW THEYu2019RE GETTING THERE TEND TO SHIFT. DAY BY DAY — >> Reporter: BUT ORGANIZERS TOLD ME THEY DO NOT PLAN ON SHUTTING DOWN THE DC BELT WAY OR ROADS. THE TRUCKERS ALSO TOLD ME THEYu2019RE PROTESTING MASKS AND THEYu2019RE PROTESTING MASKS AND VACCINE MANDATES. YOUu2019RE PROTESTING WHY? >> Iu2019M PROTESTING BECAUSE THE DEMOCRATS ARE REALLY BAD AND THEY WOULD HAVE US LOCKED UP AND WEu2019RE AMERICAN PEOPLE AND WE KNOW WHATu2019S GOOD FOR US AND OUR FAMILY. >> Reporter: WHO HAS YOU LOCKED UP, SIR? >> THE DEMOCRATS, WITH THE MASKS ON THE FACE. >> Reporter: MANY MASK MANDATES HAVE ALREADY BEEN LIFTED AROUND THE NATION. >> JUST NOW. >> Reporter: MOST MASK MANDATES ARE BEING LIFTED IN THE UNITED STATES. >> ABSOLUTELY, JUST TO MAKE SURE THEY STAY ENDED AND THIS DOES NOT HAPPEN AGAIN. >> Reporter: NOW WE DONu2019T KNOW IF SOME OF THE TRUCKERS PLAN TO PROTEST NEAR THE WHITE HOUSE THIS WEEKEND, WEu2019LL HAVE TO SEE WHAT HAPPENS. Iu2019M SHOMARI STONE HERE IN HAGERS TOWN, NEWS 4. >> FEDERAL AND LOCAL LAW ENFORCEMENT REPEATEDLY SAID THAT THEY ARE AWARE TRUCK CONVOYS PLAN TO VISIT OUR AREA AND THOSE AGENCIES ARE PREPARED. AGENCIES ARE PREPARED. WE WILL BE WORKING FOR YOU ALL NIGHT FOLLOWING THE MOVEMENTS OF THE CONVOY WHEN YOU WAKE UP TOMORROW MORNING, JOIN US FOR AN UPDATE ON THE TRUCKERS PLANS,”,”video_id”:”2009744963912_618″,”video_length”:”177211″,”video_provider”:”mpx”,”short_video_excerpt”:””,”mpx_download_pid_mobile_low”:”81tPBf7jHuMF”,”pid_streaming_web_mobile_low”:””,”mpx_download_pid_mobile_standard”:”O3XY6w3cB_XS”,”pid_streaming_mobile_standard”:”Tc_nY_oni9Sp”,”alleypack_schedule_unpublish”:””,”feed_remote_id”:”mpx_2009744963912″,”feed_thumbnail_url”:””}” data-livestream=”false” data-title=”Truck Convoy Staging in Maryland for Saturday Protest” data-vidcid=”1:14:2990991″ data-vidurl=”https://www.nbcwashington.com/news/local/truck-convoy-staging-in-maryland-for-saturday-protest/2990991/” data-islead=”false” data-catnames=”{“223863″:”News”,”569″:”Local”}” data-tagnames=”{“432447″:”truck convoy”}” data-customdata=”{“ContentPartner”:”None”,”Source”:”WEBFM”,”SyndicationAllowed”:”true”,”mSNVideoCategories”:”MSN Video v4 Connector-most watched news”,”mSNVideoContentSupplierID”:”NBC_Local”,”mSNVideoCountry”:”us”,”subtitle”:”nosubtitle”,”uploadedByTeam”:”1″,”youtubeChannel”:”None”}” data-autoplay=”false” data-cplay=”true”>
A long line of trucks prepares to make its way into the D.C. region to protest mask and vaccine mandates. News4’s Shomari Stone shows what’s coming Saturday.
The group staged in Hagerstown on Friday evening. On Saturday morning, Chopper4 filmed a long line of 18-wheelers and other vehicles surrounded by supporters on foot outside the Hagerstown Speedway. Two cranes hoisted a large American flag as several semitrucks drove underneath. Plans to leave Hagerstown on Saturday were delayed.
Photos show people carrying American flags, plus signs or flags in support of former President Donald Trump or with anti-President Joe Biden slogans outside the Hagerstown Speedway.
Fireworks popped in the sky and numerous people gathered to hold up a giant America flag on Saturday night, the images show.
D.C.’s homeland security department says the convoy could disrupt traffic around the District this weekend. Organizers previously said they do not plan on shutting down the Beltway or other roads.
Modeled after recent trucker protests in Canada, multiple protest groups have planned to come to the District in recent weeks. So far, there have been no significant disruptions to traffic.
Federal and local law enforcement have repeatedly said they are aware truck convoys plan to visit the area, and those agencies are prepared.
Around 700 National Guard troops, about 400 from D.C. and up to 300 from outside the District, were made available to “provide support at designated traffic posts, provide command and control, and cover sustainment requirements” through Monday, the defense department said.
Stay with News4 for more on this developing story.
