Group from Butler joins national ‘People’s Convoy’
A group of people departed the Clearview Mall early Saturday headed for Hagerstown, Md., to advocate for “medical freedom.”
Zach Scherer, a resident of Donegal Township, helped organize the “Butler PA Patriots Convoy,” and said he was inspired by other groups across the country that were heading for the nation’s capitol to protest COVID-19 mitigation measures enforced throughout the pandemic.
Scherer said the demonstrators involved in the movement are against mandates related to COVID-19, including mask and vaccine requirements. About five other vehicles joined from the Butler departing site Saturday.
Protesters staged at the Hagerstown Speedway during the weekend before heading down a single lane of Interstate 81.
Scherer contributed to the movement by packing a U-Haul full of supplies for the speedway crowd, including food, water and hand warmers. At the stop in Hagerstown, Scherer was able to speak with some of the organizers of the protest about their goals.
“There were a good 1,000 trucks and vehicles there at least,” Scherer said Sunday. “We talked to quite a few people. They don't like going to D.C., but they have meetings with the legislators.”
Scherer said he slept in the U-Haul Saturday night so he could participate alongside truckers from around the country who planned to snarl traffic in protest by encircling Capital Beltway.
“It’s for medical freedom,” Scherer said Friday about the purpose of the protest. “Today we're on our second lap, and that's it for today. Tomorrow if they fall back on the legislators we’ll do three laps. If we get completely ignored that's when they are going to head into D.C.”
Authorities in the District of Columbia said Sunday they would monitor demonstration activity expected to disrupt travel on roadways in and around the region. The majority of the activity is expected to occur on the beltway. Travelers were advised to consider alternate modes of transportation.
Scherer estimated that the line of trucks circling the beltway extended about 50 miles. He said a few other people who followed him from Butler also were part of the line.
The “People’s Convoy” follows similar demonstrations by truckers in Canada upset at vaccine requirements to cross the Canadian border.
Before leaving on Friday, Scherer said he wanted the movement to be heard and seen. While circling the capital Sunday, he said he felt like the voice of the demonstrators was making an impact.
“Hopefully some of these restrictions — even though most were lifted — but the masking mandates, the vaccine mandates from these private corporations will drop,” he said.
