US truckers head Washington against pandemic restrictions
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Washington: After frustrated citizens of many nations, including Canada, New Zealand and Australia, who marched to their respective capital cities against Covid-19 restriction and vaccine rules, truckers in America have initiated a convoy towards the United States capital demanding the same, Reuters reported.
The US truckers convoy included more than two dozen 18-wheeler trucks, nearly 50 pickups and recreational vehicles. The trip started from Adelanto, California. The movement was titled 'People's Convoy', similar to Canada's 'Freedom Convoy, is to engage in an 11-day trip to the US's Beltway highway encircling the capital.
The protesters seek immediate removal of Covid-19 restrictions and demand "freedoms, human rights". They also demand the rollback of politicians taking emergency powers to impose pandemic restrictions.
There are arrangements going on in the capital to facilitate the truckers' arrival as well as for more protest programmes in the upcoming days. The US army has informed that it had 400 National Guard troops approved from Columbia. They will be unarmed but help traffic posts from Saturday till March 7.
More troops are also at standby if the need arises, the army informed. US House speaker announced that required security plans had been deployed in Washington as President's State of the Union speech is around the corner.
The convoy is expected to arrive in Washington on March 5, and the truckers informed that they would not leave the capital unless their demands are met. They said that the convoy is non-partisan, supported by a range of ethnic minorities and religious faiths.
However, most of the states have already lifted many of the restrictions. In California, where the envoy starts, the state has raised mask-wearing, and for vaccinated people, it is required only at high-risk areas such as public transport, schools and healthcare facilities.
Meanwhile, another smaller convoy with a single 18 wheeler and pick up trucks has started from Pennsylvania from Wednesday.