Truckers did indeed strike over the weekend, showing up in strong numbers on the Washington D.C. Beltway on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday.
The action started on October 11, with dozens of truckers beginning to circle the Beltway around 7:30 a.m.
The truckers were driving slow, across all four lanes of the highway. After one got pulled over and warned not to impede traffic, the truckers sped up but were still traveling slow compared to the speed limit.
Bruce Leshan, a reporter with D.C. broadcaster WUSA, reported that one of the convoys--which he was traveling with--was traveling at about two miles per hour, and the traffic was almost completely stopped.
“It was unclear whether traffic was going so slowly due to the truckers, the rain or both,” according to WUSA.
Later on Friday, around 4 p.m., it appeared the protest had slowed down, with few trucks visible on the Beltway.
On Saturday, the protests started again. Hundreds of trucks reportedly slowed traffic on the Beltway.
Videos of the truckers driving on Saturday shows truckers driving slow on the Interstate-395 loop.
Over 3,000 truckers had indicated organizers of their intention to join the protest.
The protests really ramped up on Sunday, with truckers slowing traffic on the D.C. Beltway.
“We got flags flying, horns honking, rigs, trucks and other vehicles stretching 10 miles along interstate 495 in Maryland," Ernest “General” Lee, a trucker helping coordinate the protest, told the 21st Century Wire. "I cannot see an end to it, everyone has their flashers on.”
“We’re running at 42 miles per hour, and these people in the other lane are riding alongside us. We’re sending a message.”
Also, numerous truckers joining in at the protest at the World War II Memorial, where people took the government shutdown barricades and, after hauling them, dumped them in front of the White House.
Lee released a statement on Monday declaring the protest a success.
“10-13-13 was the day We The People delivered LOUD AND CLEAR a message to every elected or non-elected government official, WE HAVE HAD ENOUGH!!!” said Lee in a Facebook post.
“Thursday, October 10th 2013 I met and joined a group of truck drivers, most of us total strangers to one another. Our common anger and passion was and is love for America, Freedom and Liberty, a powerful binding force our president doesn’t understand. We rode under the handle of ”hashtag"T2SDA. We were supported by common citizens all across the nation.
“Friday the 11th and Saturday the 12th we drove in PROTEST of Constitutional abuse and an over spending, taxing and regulating federal government that is too large, too controlling and too intrusive.
“On Sunday October 13th 2013 we rode with unbridled passion in COMPLETE and TOTAL SUPPORT of our Veterans on a project named ”hashtag“T4VETS.”
Lee said that the president has “been warned.” He added, “Don’t make us come back.” The Facebook message has received over 11,900 shares and 19,900 likes since it was posted.
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