Thread on the truck convoys

[summer_in_TX]

I'd been taking the truck convoys as a joke and annoying. But then I stumbled across a thread from Terry Bouton an associate professor of history at UMBC.

"We spent four hours walking around the “Peoples Convoy” Trucker encampment at the Hagerstown Speedway in MD. Anyone dismissing this as a failed event by the crazy fringe is missing the big picture.

Here are five important take-aways."
1) There were thousands of people there. About a hundred semi-trailer cabs and hundreds of convoy pick-up trucks and SUVs filled nearly every spot in the huge Speedway parking lot. Tents were everywhere. On top of this, thousands of locals came for the day from MD, PA, WV, VA. pic.twitter.com/LUoOOKSrvp— Terry Bouton (@TerryBoutonHist) March 6, 2022

2) There was a clear attempt to appear more mainstream. The focus was a big-tent ideology of “Freedom.” Although started by anti-vaxxers, it was re-framed as “protecting our liberties” in ways that allowed for diverse beliefs. Christian Nationalism mixed with QAnon spiritualism. pic.twitter.com/1sKRw6TAAG— Terry Bouton (@TerryBoutonHist) March 6, 2022

It was pitched as being "open to all people, regardless of party, race, religion...” Plenty of Proud Boys, etc., but few overt expressions of white nationalism. (Note: Lots of Trump gear, but no one was talking about him. Not one person mentioned Russia or Ukraine all day). pic.twitter.com/J80H3zjfmD— Terry Bouton (@TerryBoutonHist) March 6, 2022

3) This was White America. Despite the “everyone is welcome” framing, it was 99% White people. The talk was about uniting Americans across class lines. The rally was “led by our blue-collar boys” (heard often) but was "bringing blue-collar and white-collar America together.” pic.twitter.com/GIvevsKSq6— Terry Bouton (@TerryBoutonHist) March 6, 2022

4) This was a movement-recruiting event. It was designed to draw people in with a family-friendly, carnival atmosphere. Free food & drinks. Booths, activities, a prayer tent. Revving engines, honking horns, bright lights. "Sign My Truck" with sharpies. T-shirt and flag vendors. pic.twitter.com/eD7zutpGyv— Terry Bouton (@TerryBoutonHist) March 6, 2022

The convoy had its own entertainers: several DJs & a country music singer with a new CD about to drop. After dark, there were high-quality fireworks & a ceremony with truck headlights and giant flags. There was funnel cake. It was like a county fair without the rides & livestock. pic.twitter.com/VRNNqoNEuj— Terry Bouton (@TerryBoutonHist) March 6, 2022

The convoy had its own entertainers: several DJs & a country music singer with a new CD about to drop. After dark, there were high-quality fireworks & a ceremony with truck headlights and giant flags. There was funnel cake. It was like a county fair without the rides & livestock. pic.twitter.com/VRNNqoNEuj— Terry Bouton (@TerryBoutonHist) March 6, 2022

The convoy had its own entertainers: several DJs & a country music singer with a new CD about to drop. After dark, there were high-quality fireworks & a ceremony with truck headlights and giant flags. There was funnel cake. It was like a county fair without the rides & livestock. pic.twitter.com/VRNNqoNEuj— Terry Bouton (@TerryBoutonHist) March 6, 2022

The convoy had its own entertainers: several DJs & a country music singer with a new CD about to drop. After dark, there were high-quality fireworks & a ceremony with truck headlights and giant flags. There was funnel cake. It was like a county fair without the rides & livestock. pic.twitter.com/VRNNqoNEuj— Terry Bouton (@TerryBoutonHist) March 6, 2022

The convoy had its own entertainers: several DJs & a country music singer with a new CD about to drop. After dark, there were high-quality fireworks & a ceremony with truck headlights and giant flags. There was funnel cake. It was like a county fair without the rides & livestock. pic.twitter.com/VRNNqoNEuj— Terry Bouton (@TerryBoutonHist) March 6, 2022

The most worrisome moment was when a crowd surrounded a Black reporter for DC's ABC affiliate. They asked why a Black reporter was sent. They demanded he say, "Truckers are heroes!" on air. When he refused, a man repeatedly shouted "LEAVE!" in his face. He left, visibly shaken. pic.twitter.com/XG31s0IqWg— Terry Bouton (@TerryBoutonHist) March 6, 2022

The most worrisome moment was when a crowd surrounded a Black reporter for DC's ABC affiliate. They asked why a Black reporter was sent. They demanded he say, "Truckers are heroes!" on air. When he refused, a man repeatedly shouted "LEAVE!" in his face. He left, visibly shaken. pic.twitter.com/XG31s0IqWg— Terry Bouton (@TerryBoutonHist) March 6, 2022

The People's Convoy wasn't a failure. It was a movement-building event that drew thousands to Hagerstown & to overpasses & convoy stops across the US. These are exactly the kinds of hands-on, personal experiences that build connections, solidify commitments, & recruit new members pic.twitter.com/6orBSd5pUl— Terry Bouton (@TerryBoutonHist) March 6, 2022

Boulton met pushback from some on Twitter, including several frustrated that he was "giving oxygen" to these folks. But he's not a member of the press trying to profit off of sensationalism. He's a history professor studying a current social movement. I found his points about this a bonding event and one designed to make them seem mainstream credible and disturbing. Forewarned and all that.

[Blues Heron]

1. Too scared to go the final mile - epic fail

Full stop. These dumb losers were too chicken to drive into DC? Bwahahaha that’s so pathetic! These big tough angry losers are too afraid to drive down a public road cuz it’s a trap! Lol!

[summer_in_TX]

2. That was pretty funny.

But it may be that wasn't the main point anyway.

[Blues Heron]

3. Riiiiight

Went all the way to dc but not ALL the way, sure thing that was the plan ALL ALONG !

[arlyellowdog]

4. It's just Rolling Thunder with trucks

But they’ve forfeited the claim to be American heroes.

[Kittycatkat]

5. Very disturbing, thanks for the heads up.

[msongs]

6. did the convoy have its own entertainers? not clear nt

[summer_in_TX]

8. Making it a party draws folks in.

"The convoy had its own entertainers: several DJs & a country music singer with a new CD about to drop. After dark, there were high-quality fireworks & a ceremony with truck headlights and giant flags."

[applegrove]

10. LOLFOTFLMAO

[Blues Heron]

7. What these fucks dont realize is that the landscape has changed

War has broken out, our old nemesis is on the rampage overseas, and crybaby time is over. Shit just got real and these guys are trying to disrupt business in the Capital city, while our enemy is on the attack - that is just a shit look at best.