How the “Freedom Convoy” went global, helped by bots and bad actors
The truckers' standoff with authorities in Canada has spurred a global trend for freedom convoys. Motorists have blocked access to government buildings in the Hague, Netherlands, while a French convoy has been snaking its way from Nice to Paris before arriving in Brussels this week. The aim was to create chaos by blocking roads, bridges and access to France and Belgium’s capital cities, while demanding an end to Covid restrictions and vaccine mandates. The reality was more of a whimper than a bang - Belgian police redirected the convoy to a parking lot on Brussels’ outskirts. Protesters then scattered - some heading on to Strasbourg, while others — as Politico reported this week - simply peeled off to Brussels’ myriad cafes for a drink.
A mix of trucks, cars and people also tried blocking roads in Israel, Finland, Australia and New Zealand.
The origin of this ordeal goes back to January 22, when hundreds of trucks rolled out of Vancouver, ending up in the Canadian capital, Ottawa, where around 400 of them then parked around parliament buildings, clogging up access to the city center. Some of the heavy vehicles weigh as much as 30 tons, posing a significant challenge to remove. Police are continuing to try to break up the blockade, threatening truckers with arrest, frozen bank accounts, and the loss of their licenses - which is an easier approach than trying to tow their loaded vehicles away. The truckers’ motivation is to end the mandate which requires proof of vaccination at the U.S.-Canada borders, without which drivers need to quarantine at the border.
The Canadian truckers’ protest sparked sympathy among U.S. anti-vaccine advocates, who donated generously to “Adopt-A-Trucker” and other supporting crowdfunder campaigns, raising an astonishing $8.9 million.