Truckers inspired by Canada begin 'freedom' convoys around the world

Truckers around the world are creating their own convoys to protest COVID-19 vaccine mandates after being inspired by the Canadian Freedom Convoy, which reportedly has thousands of trucks.

Freedom Convoy 2022, the group that organized the Canadian trucker protest, reported initially having 1,600 trucks. The convoy, which now has nearly 50,000 trucks, will be in Ottowa by Saturday with the goal of getting "the government of Canada to repeal its cross border Covid tracking passport / phone app and ALL Covid-19 vaccine mandates," according to a press release.

The Canadian convoy has reportedly been joined by some American truckers and in Ontario, farmers came in tractors to show support. Both the United States and Canada mandate cross-border truckers to be vaccinated against COVID-19.

Americans are invited to also protest the mandate this Saturday at three border locations: Houlton, Maine; Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan; and Sweet Grass, Montana.

In Australia, the "2022 Official Convoy to Canberra" has more than 44,000 members on Facebook and more than 10,000 followers on Telegram as of Thursday. The group is planning to meet in the capital by Jan. 31 to protest vaccine mandates.

European truckers are organizing to protest vaccine mandates as well. The European Convoy Telegram channel has more than 7,300 members. Truckers are organizing across Europe, including the Netherlands, France, Hungary and more, to converge on Brussels by Feb. 7. 

The truckers have received an outpouring of support from celebrities as well. 

Entrepreneur Elon Musk, one of the wealthiest men in the world tweeted his support for the convoy. "Canadian truckers rule," he said, later adding: "If you scare people enough, they will demand removal of freedom. This is the path to tyranny."