A group named the “People’s Convoy” began a three-day series of protests against COVID-19 policies in California at the state Capitol this week.
More than 100 demonstrators arrived in Sacramento, California, on Monday, and a similar-sized crowd showed up Tuesday, calling for the state to rescind its remaining COVID-19 restrictions and refrain from enacting additional mandates in the future.
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“What matters is that no one should be forced to do something that they don’t want to do,” said organizer Mike Landis, per CapRadio. “How many people do you think care, if they’re in a burning building if their fireman is vaccinated or not when they come in to pull them out?”
The protests entailed demonstrators chanting at the steps of the state Capitol, with some attendees in their rigs on nearby roadways honking along.
The protest follows a similar one the group held last week outside Los Angeles City Hall to protest local COVID-19 mandates.
https://twitter.com/emily_hoeven/status/1516488151325233153?s=20&t=1hkNs3EqS52aNE0v9UEKaA
California continues to have several COVID-19 containment policies in place. The state of emergency Gov. Gavin Newsom issued in March 2020 remains in effect, as do some of his pandemic-related executive orders. However, last February, Newsom announced he would begin rescinding some of those orders, with 31 set to expire by June 31, according to CapRadio.
A vaccine mandate for school students for K–12 is slated to go into effect by the summer of 2023 if the state receives the green light from the Food and Drug Administration. Masks are also required in specific high-risk environments such as nursing homes.
But the state has taken steps to wind down the COVID-19 mandates. A statewide indoor mask mandate ended in March for unvaccinated people and school settings. Earlier this month, the state also ended its proof-of-vaccination requirement for large indoor events.
After the convoy protest on Wednesday, there have been no more permits issued for the convoy for the rest of the month, according to the Sacramento Bee.
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Last month, the People’s Convoy descended upon Washington, D.C., to protest COVID-19 policies across the United States. The group drew its inspiration from the “Freedom Convoy” that protested pandemic policies in Canada.
“Americans love our freedoms and love the Constitution of The United States of America. This convoy aims to bring back our freedoms, our civil liberties, and bring an end to all unconstitutional mandates. This is about our rights, as well as the freedom of future generations. It’s not about political parties, but moreso about a government that has forgotten its place and has no regard for our founding fathers’ instructions,” the group says on its about page.
