Plans for a convoy-style protest in the U.S. gain supporters online.

[Nevilledog]

Link to tweet

https://www.nytimes.com/live/2022/02/08/world/canada-trucker-protest#plans-for-a-convoy-style-protest-in-the-us-gain-supporters-online

No paywall
https://archive.fo/4zPYK

Plans for a demonstration by truckers in the United States similar to the one in Canada appear to be gaining momentum, aided by online supporters.

The route and timing of the demonstration, meant to protest pandemic restrictions in the United States, was set to be announced on Tuesday evening, said Brian Brase, a trucker who is organizing the American effort. According to messages posted on social media, the route may start in Sacramento, Calif., and end in Washington, D.C., but Mr. Brase declined to comment on details of the convoy until an official announcement was made.

It is unclear how large any such convoy might be, should it come to pass. But anti-vaccine activists have started planning on popular forums on Facebook and Telegram, the messaging app.

On Facebook, the hashtag #TruckersConvoy2022 has garnered almost 2 million interactions over the last two weeks, according to CrowdTangle, a data analytics tool owned by Meta, Facebook’s parent company. Private Facebook groups dedicated to the convoy have also seen fast growth, with the main group collecting nearly 150,000 members since it started two weeks ago. A second group, dedicated to the efforts in the United States, has gained 50,000 members in the last week.

Meta said it had removed several groups associated with the convoy for violating its rules, and was continuing to monitor the situation. One group had sent people to external sites to buy merchandise. Another group had violated Facebook’s rules by sharing content tied to the banned QAnon conspiracy movement.

*snip*

[NBachers]

1. I hope there are strong and immediate response plans in the USA if it starts happening here.

[Initech]

6. Agreed, we need to be ready for these fuckheads!

[Hestia]

2. Agreed - which is why I keep telling DH that "supply chain" issues is revenge of the billionaires

and pre-programmed algorithms - everything we have seen is manufactured.

Vax & Maskholes have won on the unmasking issue(s), why would they think they cannot win on this one?

(sniffles) Why aren't my hearts showing up in my post? I have the sadz now.

[SergeStorms]

3. The leaders of this stunt...

will end up controlling the inevitable "GoFundMe" dollars. I'm betting they'll be some Trumpers - perhaps Trump himself - and the grift will be on.

Some right-wing scumbags will end up getting wealthy, or wealthier, by controlling this "organically" devised demonstration.

[sarisataka]

4. Oh, I know this one...

[heckles65]

5. Yeah - "Convoy," cool song. Except -

-does anyone remember what they were protesting??

As I recall, they wanted the government to reduce the price of their diesel fuel during a price shock. They liked capitalism, until they didn't.

[PurgedVoter]

15. Yes, this was Mannheim Steamroller's only big hit single.

That's right, this was done by Mannheim Steamroller.

[Efilroft Sul]

7. I just participated in a YouGov poll and 53% of those surveyed support such a protest here.

They're B+ rated by 538.com, for what that's worth. Maybe they sampled more MAGA types ahead of me. But if that's not the case, and if the support for the virus truckers stays above 50%, hmm. The social media propaganda's working.

[hueymahl]

8. I support the Canadian Truckers

[Crunchy Frog]

11. Would you care to clarify a little?

[hueymahl]

17. I support their right to protest

And disagree with the heavy-handed tactics being used by the authorities, especially attempting to weaponize the financial system against them.

I realize laws are different in Canada, but I expected them to be more liberal, more free, not less.

[BlueIdaho]

9. Truckers just barely worked their way into America's empathy spotlight

And now they pull this shit? Good luck with that.

[Samrob]

10. If they do this they will be back under the truck. nt

[BlueIdaho]

12. My thoughts exactly...

Long distance truckers do have a tough life, my daughter and her husband were in the game until it bankrupted them. But this kind of stunt will erase any good will that has been built up as a result of reporting on inventory disruptions.

[roamer65]

13. I can't say what I think should happen to them if they back up traffic.

I’d be banned.

I fucking HATE traffic jams. That’s the biggest reason I’ve never moved to CA or the Northeast.

[davsand]

14. If they own their own rig how are they able to afford this?

Fuel isn't cheap, and insurance isn't either. Somebody has to be paying the bills. Follow the money.




Laura

[Mary in S. Carolina]

16. This convoy does not bode well

for the republicans. Michigan is pis.ed.