FREEDOM CONVOY: HIJACKED
We Had a Chance to Stand With the World
But Instead We Stood in a Parking Lot
Was America’s Freedom Convoy Stolen from the People?
[This article is based on publicly available information, news reports, and personal analysis. It is intended for educational and commentary purposes protected by the First Amendment. All statements reflect events that occurred in the public eye or are commentary on public movements and figures.]
The Original Freedom Convoy – 🇨🇦 Canada, January 2022
The Freedom Convoy began on January 22, 2022, as a grassroots protest by Canadian truckers opposing COVID-19 vaccine mandates for cross-border drivers. What started with a handful of working-class truckers quickly grew into a national movement and then into a global symbol of resistance against government overreach and pandemic-era authoritarianism.
Thousands of trucks and supporters converged in Ottawa, parking near Parliament Hill and refusing to leave until mandates were lifted. The protest was peaceful, determined, and organized – with citizens from all walks of life joining in to demand liberty.
Let this be clear: the movement was never called The People’s Convoy. It was known globally and universally as the Freedom Convoy, and it represented more than truckers – it became a worldwide rallying cry for liberty.
The Global Response – Who Stood with the Freedom Convoy?
Inspired by what happened in Canada, a wave of similar movements spread across the globe. These weren’t just anti-vaccine protests – they were expressions of widespread frustration against years of top-down control and the abuse of emergency powers.
Here’s a breakdown of the global response:
- 🇦🇺 Australia launched the Convoy to Canberra in February 2022. Thousands of vehicles descended on the capital, openly crediting Canada as the inspiration.
- 🇳🇿 New Zealand organized Convoy 2022 NZ. Like Canada, trucks and supporters occupied the area around Parliament in Wellington.
- 🇫🇷 France staged the Convoi de la Liberté. Thousands flooded into Paris in open defiance of health pass mandates, many waving Canadian flags.
- 🇧🇪 🇮🇹 🇪🇸 Belgium, Italy, and Spain each had Freedom Convoy-style protests, focused on opposing COVID restrictions and rising government control.
- 🇮🇱 Israel held a Freedom Convoy to Jerusalem, driven by everyday citizens who were tired of restrictions and creeping authoritarianism.
In every case, these movements cited the Canadian Freedom Convoy as the spark. The name “Freedom Convoy” – translated into each local language – became the shared banner for a worldwide movement.
Then came the United States.
Trump Calls for a U.S. Freedom Convoy
As Canada’s Freedom Convoy gained global attention, former President Donald Trump publicly praised the truckers and called for a similar movement in America.
“We want those great Canadian truckers and those around the world to know that we are with them all the way. We want the Freedom Convoy to come to America.” – Donald J. Trump, February 2022
Take note: Trump used the term “Freedom Convoy.” Not once did he call it “The People’s Convoy.” He called for unity under a banner that had already inspired global solidarity.
The moment was wide open. The people were ready. And the movement could have continued – until it was redirected.
Hijacked in the U.S. – Enter The People’s Convoy
Shortly after Trump’s remarks, a group of U.S.-based organizers launched a convoy from California. But instead of continuing under the Freedom Convoy name, they branded it something else: The People’s Convoy.
At the same time, a man named Brian Hinsen (known as “Von D” from Conway, Arkansas), who had ties to the original Canadian effort, was already organizing a Freedom Convoy USA. His team had a name, a plan, and early support. But when Mike Landis and others got involved, everything changed.
Social media arguments erupted. The Freedom Convoy name was dropped. And a new leadership circle stepped in, bringing with them a new name, new narrative, and a tighter grip on control.
What started as a grassroots movement transformed into a branded, livestreamed, and carefully managed spectacle. And it didn’t take long before cracks began to show.
What Went Wrong at Hagerstown
The People’s Convoy made it across the country and arrived at Hagerstown Speedway in Maryland – and then it stopped. What began as a rolling protest turned into a stationary camp.
As time passed, the issues grew louder:
Money and donation transparency became a major concern.
Organizers clashed over direction, control, and leadership.
Brian Brase, one of the lead spokesmen, resigned in May 2022, citing internal mismanagement and loss of purpose.
Some participants were pushed out or publicly criticized for asking hard questions.
Social media influencers dominated the messaging while many working-class drivers quietly left, disappointed.
What could have been a defining moment for liberty in America became a fragmented, ego-driven operation with no clear results.
A Pattern That Keeps Repeating
If this all sounds familiar, it’s because we’ve seen it before.
Back in 2020, during the Mayday protests in Washington, D.C., a grassroots movement led by Rick Santiago gained momentum – only to be overtaken by some of the same familiar faces. The name changed. The leadership changed. The message changed. And the movement fizzled out.
This is the cycle:
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- A legitimate grassroots uprising begins.
- A small circle of figures steps in and seizes control.
- Donations surge. Messaging becomes vague. Infighting begins.
- The movement collapses – and the people who gave their time, energy, and money are left betrayed.
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We’ve seen it. Again and again.
Final Thought: What We Lost
When Donald Trump called for a Freedom Convoy, he was urging Americans to join a worldwide movement for liberty. What we got instead was a rebranded operation that turned inward, lost its momentum, and failed to deliver any lasting change.
This isn’t about attacking individuals. It’s about recognizing a repeated pattern. And when the same people keep showing up at the center of failed movements, we have to ask the hard questions:
Who’s really behind the curtain?
Are political players or donor networks pulling the strings?
Are working-class movements being hijacked on purpose?
Side Note: [USTA – Leadership and inner circle seem to end up in lead roles and inner circles.] We’ve seen the same people support and go from CDL-Drivers Unlimited to now American Truckers United. The silent few that always seem to participate in failing movements.
A Warning and a Question
There’s possibly another movement rising. You can feel it. American truckers are seeing through the smoke screen and are ready to take a stand. But the question is: Will we let it be hijacked again?
Because if we do, we already know how it ends:
• Same inner circle.
• Same excuses.
• Same disappointment.
If we want truth, we have to protect it. If we want freedom, we have to define it. If we want a movement that actually lasts, we have to guard the message – from grifters, from influencers, from opportunists, and from false leaders.
This is no longer just a political issue. It’s a spiritual battle. And time is running out.
Just A Driver’s Perspective
The People’s Convoy is still an unfinished story. No clear accounting for donations. No real answers about who made the decisions. No justice for those who participated in good faith.
Until the full truth is revealed, I’ll call it like I saw it:
Another hijacking – by talking heads, self-appointed advocates, and opportunists looking for attention and a payday.
Author’s Note:
Ask yourself – where were the working-class show trucks? Where were the associations? Where were the trucking country singers? Senator Ted Cruz made an appearance in Maryland, but that was obviously – looking back – a political stunt.
I talked to a journalist from the LA Times. I’ve talked to people who were in the convoy from beginning to end. I watched the entire thing. I was personally involved in Mayday. I spoke to Rick Santiago and Sean McIntosh while it was happening – actually before one truck parked in DC for Mayday – I was on those calls. I have messages from the People’s Convoy. Yes, I have receipts.
I know more than I write – and that’s why I keep writing. Because I know the players. I’ve seen the pattern. And I’m going to keep exposing it.
In my personal opinion, the same people who hijacked Mayday hijacked the Freedom Convoy or allowed it to be hijacked. And yes – it should have been the American USA-Freedom Convoy, not the People’s Convoy. We had a chance to stand with the world – and instead, we stood in a parking lot.
Will Cook | A Driver’s Perspective
References
- “Canada Convoy Protest.” Wikipedia
- “Ottawa Trucker Convoy Galvanizes Far-Right Worldwide.” Politico, Feb. 2022
- “DC Convoy Leader Brian Brase Resigns.” Washington Post, March 18, 2022
- “The So-Called Freedom Convoy Was Never About Truckers.” Truck News
- “US Convoy Inspired by Canada Launches from California.” The Guardian, Feb. 2022
- “Freedom Convoy: What to Know.” Council on Foreign Relations (CFR)
- “Convoy Movement Isn’t a Struggle Over Freedom.” Truthout, 2022
- Additional reports from Reuters, Business Insider, and FreightWaves