Comparing Trucker Convoys to the Civil Rights Movement

By Dr. Kandis Y. Wyatt, PMP
Faculty Member, Transportation and Logistics

What originally started as a Canadian-led protest against trucker vaccine mandates, which blocked downtown Ottawa and resulted in over 196 arrests, has now morphed into an international phenomenon. In Canada, the convoy started as a loosely affiliated group of truck drivers and gradually expanded to include Canadian supporters and political party members. The protests began in late January and gained local, national, and international support.

Truckers used social media, CB radio and television/print media to relay their discontent with vaccine mandates and the Canadian government. In addition, Facebook, Rumble and GoFundMe all conveyed the truckers’ feelings to countless supporters.

US and European Trucker Protests

In the past month, trucker convoys have spread to other locations. France held protests by blocking access around the Arc de Triomphe in Paris, and Belgian truckers also held a protest.

A trucker convoy is expected to arrive in Washington, DC, this week and settle around the Beltway to block access to downtown DC. Organizers of the DC protest and European protests have used hashtags such as #FreedomConvoy, #freedomconvoy2022 and #TruckersForFreedom to garner support and participation in the protest. These hashtags have enabled many to search for and share information, helping the trucker convoy movement go viral.

Related link: A New Awareness of the Importance of a Well-Run Supply Chain

Parallels Between the Trucker Convoys and 1960s Civil Rights Protests

There are several parallels between the trucker convoys and the 1960s civil rights protests:

• Some of the protestors have been peaceful. In the 1960s, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. preached about the importance of nonviolent resistance. Adhering to nonviolent principles requires courage and a focus on community engagement, identifying the root of the problem and unconditional love.
• Protests gained international attention. In the 1960s, many non-violent protests and activities garnered not only national attention but international attention as well. This publicity led to Dr. King receiving the Nobel Peace Prize in 1964.
• The protestors are a vital part of the economy. The trucking industry is essential to the supply chain, since most goods and services need vehicles to deliver goods in the last link of the supply chain (also called the last mile). Likewise, African Americans are particularly vital contributors to the U.S. economy, as they proved during the economic boycotts of the 1950s and 1960s.
• Protestors used various methods to convey their message. Civil rights activists used word of mouth, churches, and print/radio to relay their discontent and the need for civil rights reforms. In a similar way, the Freedom Convoy has capitalized on social media to distribute their message in addition to developing a website.
• Protestors have specific demands. Likewise, the civil rights movement focused on certain demands such as providing equal access, resources, and laws for all U.S. citizens regardless of race or creed.

American truckers and their supporters have organized two separate trucker convoy groups that plan to arrive in the Washington, DC area in time for President Biden’s State of the Union Address on March 1. The People’s Convoy website states, “We demand the declaration of national emergency concerning the COVID-19 pandemic be lifted immediately and our cherished constitution reign supreme.” The website also includes trucking routes, sign-up opportunities and invitations to donate.

Related link: The Business World and the Future Post-COVID-19 Environment

A small trucker convoy has already left Adelanto, California, the official starting point of the cross-country “The People’s Convoy,” to protest U.S. government COVID-19 mandates. The message the truckers intend to deliver from California to Washington, DC, is that “the government has forgotten its place” and that its mask and vaccination mandates are unconstitutional. Next week will be pivotal in whether the protests will have an impact on future mask guidelines for truckers.