Americans are purchasing freedom convoy merchandise in support of the truckers driving cross-country to Washington DC in protest of coronavirus mandates.
Apparel, flags, signs, stickers and pins are being sold at convoy rally stops across the U.S. as supporters aim to raise awareness for the trucks caravanning nationwide.
Much of the merchandise featured patriotic designs, such as the American and Canadian flags, and messages promoting the right-wing agenda, such as ‘Trump 2024’ and ‘Let’s Go Brandon’ – a phrase that has became code for insulting President Joe Biden.
While many of the items for sale seem to issue support for former President Donald Trump and initiatives associated with his presidency, such as the U.S. Space Force, the vendors’ intent is still to support the truck convoys.
The 30-mile People’s Convoy – which is the largest of the cavalcades traveling across the U.S. – is set to arrive in Washington D.C. on Sunday morning.
Convoyers are demanding that Biden end the national emergency originally declared at the start of the pandemic, as well as scrap any remaining coronavirus mandates. The group alleges the government has infringed upon their constitutional rights with the mandates.
The U.S. truck convoys were modeled after Canada’s self-styled Freedom Convoy which resulted in blockades at a handful of Canada-U.S. border posts. Hundreds of trucks eventually occupied the streets around Parliament Hill in Ottawa, shutting down key parts of the capital city for more than three weeks. The Canadian protest also inspired convoys in France, New Zealand and the Netherlands.
LORE CITY, OHIO – MARCH 3: Americans are purchasing freedom convoy merchandise in support of the truckers driving cross-country to Washington DC in protest of coronavirus mandates
LORE CITY, OHIO – MARCH 3: Apparel, flags, signs, stickers and pins are being sold at convoy rally stops across the U.S. as supporters aim to raise awareness for the trucks caravanning nationwide
LEBANON, TENNESSEE – MARCH 4: Much of the merchandise featured patriotic designs, such as the American and Canadian flags, and messages promoting the right-wing agenda, such as ‘Trump 2024’ and ‘Let’s Go Brandon’ – a phrase that has became code for insulting President Joe Biden
HEBRON, OHIO – MARCH 3: While many of the items for sale seem to issue support for former President Donald Trump and initiatives associated with his presidency, such as the U.S. Space Force, the vendors’ intent is still to support the truck convoys
LEBANON, TENNESSEE – MARCH 4: Let’s Go Brandon racing tires were selling for $10 each
The pro-convoy merchandise varied in price, with stickers and pins selling for as little as $5 each.
Miniature Let’s Go Brandon racing tires were selling at $10, metal signs at $12 and the popular flags – which supporters have been waving from overpasses and along interstates as the truck caravans roll through – at $20.
Apparel seemed to be the money maker with hats, shirts and hooded sweatshirts each priced at $20, $25 and $35 to $40, respectively.
Some vendors appear to be holding pop-up shops along the convoy routes.
Other merchants seem to be traveling with the various convoys, however it is unclear if the money raised by their products are being used to support each individual shop or the convoy as a whole.
The People’s Convoy, as of Saturday, has raised over $1.6million from donations on its website. The group has also received donations of fuel, food and other supplies at various stops along its route.
HEBRON, OHIO – MARCH 3: Flags – which supporters have been waving from overpasses and along interstates as the truck caravans roll through – were listed for sale at $20
LEBANON, TENNESSEE – MARCH 4: Apparel seemed to be the money maker with hats, shirts and hooded sweatshirts each priced at $20, $25 and $35 to $40, respectively
LEBANON, TENNESSEE – MARCH 4: A Space Force hat is pictured for sale at a convoy rally
HEBRON, OHIO – MARCH 3: Holly Lama, of Lancaster, Ohio, and her son in front of their Back the Blue pop-up booth in Hebron, Ohio. The People’s Convoy had travelled through Hebron on its cross-country drive
LORE CITY, OHIO – MARCH 3: A pop-up merchandise shop is set up at the Shenandoah Travel Plaza in Lore City, Ohio
HEBRON, OHIO – MARCH 3: Various pro-Trump hats are pictured at a pop-up shop in Ohio along the People’s Convoy route
HEBRON, OHIO – MARCH 3: The pro-convoy merchandise varied in price, with stickers and pins selling for as little as $5 each
LEBANON, TENNESSEE – MARCH 4: Some vendors appear to be holding pop-up shops along the convoy routes
LEBANON, TENNESSEE – MARCH 4: Other merchants seem to be traveling with the various convoys, however it is unclear if the merchant pictured above is a pop-shop, regularly stationed at the James E Ward Agricultural Center in Lebanon, Tennessee or traveling with the Southeast American Freedom Convoy, which is a large caravan moving through the south
The People’s Convoy started their journey in California last week on an 11-day trek to Washington, D.C. They are expected to arrive in the capital city Sunday morning for a rally, however it remains unclear when or where it will take place.
‘Well, we’re going to do something,’ organizer Brian Brase, told supporters at a Friday night rally in Hagerstown, Maryland. ‘What this is is yet to be determined. Please be patient.’
Organizer Mike Landis echoed Brase’s claims, saying: ‘We’re going to keep annoying D.C. … Just make them wonder a little bit.’
‘Look, we’re truck drivers; we’re very spontaneous,’ Landis added.
It remains unclear how many will attend Sunday’s rally in D.C. but a significant turnout is expected, given the large welcome the People’s Convoy has been met with nationwide.
Some convoyers have mentioned ‘blocking the Beltway,’ the 64-mile highway surrounding the city, however organizers have routinely claimed they do not intend to disrupt roads or bridges, like the Canadian Freedom Convoy protest did.
‘I can tell you now that there will be select trucks going to the White House,’ organizer Dan Fitzgerald revealed on his Friday morning livestream. ‘I don’t want people thinking we are invading D.C. This is not the convoy going into D.C. commons. This is a few select drivers.’
The group is primarily protesting COVID-19 mandates, although some political analysts allege the group is also calling for over-arching federal accountability and addressing additional political issues such as the alleged ‘fraudulent’ 2020 election and Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
LORE CITY, OHIO – MARCH 3: The People’s Convoy is the largest truck caravan traveling the U.S. As of Saturday, it has raised over $1.6million from donations on its website
LEBANON, TENNESSEE – MARCH 4: Anti-Joe Biden pins are sold to convoy supporters in Tennessee
HEBRON, OHIO – MARCH 4: The People’s Convoy, which rallied through Ohio on Thursday, is expected to arrive in D.C. Sunday morning for a rally. A pop-up Back the Blue shop in Hebron, Ohio is pictured above
LORE CITY, OHIO – MARCH 3: The U.S. truck convoys were modeled after Canada’s self-styled Freedom Convoy which resulted in blockades at a handful of Canada-U.S. border posts
LEBANON, TENNESSEE – MARCH 4: During the Canadian Freedom Convoy hundreds of trucks eventually occupied the streets around Parliament Hill in Ottawa, shutting down key parts of the capital city for more than three weeks. Convoy supporters are seen shopping in Tennessee
HEBRON, OHIO – MARCH 4: The Canadian protest also inspired convoys in France, New Zealand and the Netherlands
LEBANON, TENNESSEE – MARCH 4: Pastor and author William Owens, who has been traveling with the Southeast American Freedom Convoy since it rolled through Texas, is selling his books along the convoy route
LEBANON, TENNESSEE – MARCH 4: Convoyers are demanding that Biden end the national emergency originally declared at the start of the pandemic, as well as scrap any remaining coronavirus mandates
The trucker protests come as nearly every state in America either has lifted mask orders or has scheduled a day to do so in the near future, with the exception of Hawaii.
Even the U.S. Capitol, which has had a controversial mask mandate since legislators returned in the summer 2020, lifted mask orders last weekend.
Vaccine mandates, possibly the most controversial COVID-related mandates, are starting to become a thing of the past, as New York City has dropped them for businesses like bars and restaurants.
The policy changes are in response to virus case loads across the country having dropped precipitously since their early January peak, with the Omicron variant proving to be less likely than earlier strains to cause death or serious illness, especially in vaccinated and boosted individuals.
The CDC also issued new coronavirus guidelines last Friday that resulted in the lifting of mask recommendations for 70 percent of Americans.
LEBANON, TENNESSEE – MARCH 4: The convoyers allege the government has infringed upon their constitutional rights with the mandate
HEBRON, OHIO – MARCH 4: Some political analysts allege the group is also calling for over-arching federal accountability and addressing additional political issues such as the alleged ‘fraudulent’ 2020 election and Russia’s invasion of Ukraine
LORE CITY, OHIO – MARCH 3: The trucker protests come as nearly every state in America either has lifted mask orders or has scheduled a day to do so in the near future, with the exception of Hawaii
LEBANON, TENNESSEE – MARCH 4: The policy changes are in response to virus case loads across the country having dropped precipitously since their early January peak, with the Omicron variant proving to be less likely than earlier strains to cause death or serious illness, especially in vaccinated and boosted individuals
