Communities across Alaska hosted Alaska Freedom Convoys to raise support for the Canadian Freedom Convoy 2022 for truckers’ rights and to protest mandates. Five freedom convoys took place on Sunday including Kenai, Eagle River, Anchorage, Mat-Su, and in the Interior. According to the online event, this is a peaceful action in solidarity with the world, not necessarily about vaccination or anti-vaccination, but about the right to choose. Additionally, the poster says that this isn’t about politics, either, but about the freedom of the human race.
The #AlaskaFreedomConvoy in Kenai at the Walmart. About 60 vehicles showed up… pic.twitter.com/9qnjLn9j65
— Anthony Moore 🎙️ (@RadioByAnthony) February 6, 2022
The convoy of vehicles, both cars and trucks, took to the streets locally at 1:30 p.m. and drove between Kenai and Soldotna. The convoy began at the Kenai Walmart and about 60 vehicles participated.
Meanwhile, Canada’s capital city of Ottawa is, for the second weekend in a row, filled with people upset over government mandates that require unvaccinated truckers entering Canada to quarantine for two weeks once they cross the border. In Canada, truckers are protesting about wanting their freedom back, however the Canadian government said that they’re not backing down. ABC News says that protesters won’t leave until all mandates and COVID-19 restrictions are gone, going so far as to call for the removal of Prime Minister Trudeau’s government.
Earlier in January, a group of lawmakers in the Alaska State Legislature called out the Canadian government to waive the COVID-19 vaccination mandate for United States truck drivers crossing the Canadian border. They signed a letter addressed to Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau.
Since January 15, U.S. truck drivers who choose to be unvaccinated are being denied entry into Canada. Previously, Canada allowed unvaccinated essential workers to cross the border into Canada from the U.S. as not to interrupt the supply chain. Additionally, the United States implemented a similar vaccination mandate for Canadian freight drivers. Both countries face considerable shortages of food and other essential supplies.
In a forthcoming letter, members of the Alaska State Legislature also are asking President Biden to rescind the vaccination requirement for truckers entering the United States. Approximately 70% of the $648 billion in trade between Canada and the United States moves by truck, according to the Canadian Trucking Alliance.
The American Truckers Association and the Canadian Truckers Association both have argued that because drivers are usually isolated from the public, they have lower rates of coronavirus infection and pose little risk to public health. The Alaska Trucking Association opposes the vaccination requirement for freight drivers.