The “Take Our Border Back” convoy is officially underway after truckers and other drivers assembled in Virginia on Monday. The group is now enroute to the southern border, where rallies are planned for major border entry points in San Ysidro, California, Eagle Pass, Texas and Yuma, Arizona.
“This is all about being a peaceful demonstration,” said event organizer Craig Hudgins, according to footage captured by on-the-ground reporter Brendan Gutenschwager. “To go forth and to say that we are followers of our lord Jesus Christ, who was a man of peace. “And that we will stand there and we will intercede in prayer, because we don’t want our national guard guys taking the brunt of what’s going on.
The group — which assembled in Norfolk, Virginia — will travel across the Southeastern United States before linking up with other protesters in Texas this weekend, Gutenschwager reported. ““I’m hearing 40,000 truckers coming from all over the country and Canada,” Hudgins said before the group departed.
Fox News previously estimated that upwards of 700,000 vehicles could participate in the demonstrations overall, with truckers coming from as far as Canada.
According to the event website, organizers are calling on “all active & retired law enforcement and military, Veterans, Mama Bears, elected officials, business owners, ranchers, truckers, bikers, media and LAW ABIDING, freedom-loving Americans” to participate in a “peaceful assembly and prayer.”
The convoy’s goals include educating the public on the border crisis, sending a message to local, state and federal governments, and demanding action on deportations and border closures.
Meet-ups are expected to continue throughout the week while additional groups began their respective journeys on Monday, including one in Jacksonville, Florida.
“The American people have had enough. We’re demanding that the Biden administration do its job, enforce the laws on the books and secure our border,” said U.S. Rep. Keith Self (R-TX). “Eight million people during the Biden Administration? That’s more than the population of Ohio. This is the time for us to rise up as the American people and demand that our president do his job. This should be a peaceful movement of the American people joined by other nations if they want to come.”
The convoy is expected to reach its peak this weekend.
