People's Convoy co-organizer: 'We cannot have what's happening in Canada happen here'

People's Convoy co-organizer Maureen Steele says truckers have been hit hard by COVID-19 mandates and the protesters "want accountability" for the government's actions during the pandemic.

The People's Convoy, inspired by the Canadian Freedom Convoy, plans to be in Washington, D.C., by March 5.

The truckers in the protest are looking to restore freedom and liberty, Steele told "Just the News, Not Noise" cohosts John Solomon and Amanda Head.

"We want accountability for what happened over the last two years," said Steele, calling the pandemic's fallout "devastating."

Some truckers have lost their jobs due to COVID vaccine mandates, Steele reported.

"They're still willing to go out on the road, and cross the country, for our freedom," Steele said. "And it's so typical of all of America, the blue-collar boys stepping up first.

Steele called the People's Convoy a "slice of Americana," explaining that "people from every walk of life" have joined the protest.

More than $200,000 has been raised in support of the People's Convoy, according to its website. Steele said the group learned from the Canadian convoy and is taking precautions to ensure it can use the donations.

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau used the Emergencies Act to direct "banks to freeze the accounts of those involved in the convoy and cease providing financial services where the institution suspects that an account, either personal or corporate, is being used to further the protest," as Just the News reported. Crowdfunding platform GoFundMe also froze the Canadian protest's fundraiser.

"We've taken every precaution that we can to ensure that that doesn't happen here," Steele said.

The People's Convoy is working with attorneys and sweeping the donation account "a couple of times a day" to put the money in a private bank, Steele said.

"We cannot have what's happening in Canada happen here, and it absolutely could," she said. "We need to dial [mandates] back."

In order to fight false messaging that the media may create around the People's Convoy, Steele said "just having cameras there" helps. 

Steele called it "amazing" that Rep. Yvette Herrell (R-N.M.) plans to introduce legislation granting temporary asylum to Canadian Freedom Convoy truckers.

Steele mentioned the support she has received from the Democratic-controlled state of New Mexico. 

"Anyone that says this is a Republican movement, or it's a political movement, this absolutely is not — this is a freedom movement," she said. "It doesn't matter what side of the aisle you're on, every American can gather under the banner of freedom."