Texas “Border Convoy” Will Probably Not End Well (Opinion)

I love the United States Constitution and its amendments. Especially the First Amendment, which guarantees not only freedom of speech, but freedom of peaceful assembly. However, let me be the first to say that the “Border Convoy” (or convoys?) headed for Eagle Pass in Texas will likely end just as terribly as the first “Freedom Convoy” did right here in Hagerstown, MD.

First, a little backstory. In early 2022, “The People’s Convoy” travelled across the country from California to Washington, DC to protest COVID-19 mandates. The Convoy’s final “rest stop” before the DC Beltway was intended to be a single night at Hagerstown, MD on March 4, 2022. While there were of course some locals who didn’t agree with the convoy or its goals, with Washington County being a rather conservative area, most residents supported and were excited for the Convoy’s brief planned stop in Hagerstown, myself included especially as I was significantly injured by the COVID-19 vaccine. At least, we thought it was a “brief” stop. Unbeknownst to us, the Convoy in fact intended to turn the event into a several-month long occupation, with almost daily trips to the DC Beltway.

The Convoy was not without drama here in Hagerstown, and by the end I don’t believe many people were sad to see it leave. What started out as a positive movement progressed to a drama-filled escapade with the culmination of events on May 20, 2022 with the complete disbanding of the Convoy and their removal from the Hagerstown Speedway by the Maryland State Police and Washington County Sheriff’s Office amid accusations of deceit and supposed theft of $15,000 in donations.

On December 30, 2023, the “Take Our Border Back Convoy” website was born (which looks remarkably similar to the 2022 People’s Convoy website), with the goal of “bring awareness and send a clear message to those in power within our government who have abandoned our basic right to a safe and secure border.” Much like the original People’s Convoy, the Border Convoy is soliciting for donations through GiveSendGo, a popular crowdfunding website. According to the donation page, “The funds from this campaign will be received by MISSION WTP HAGGAI 28.” Haggai 28 of course is a reference to the book of Haggai in the Hebrew Bible, and “WTP” is undoubtedly a reference to “We The People.” As of this writing, the donation page had raised $142,741.

While the methodology and even website is similar to the original People’s Convoy, the People’s Convoy has issued a statement that they are not involved in the convoy.

With the recent events involving a convoy to the southern border, we at TPC would like to make the following statement….
All of us organizers from TPC have been fielding calls and questions regarding the southern border convoy. We have seen news interviews proclaiming that we are helping and/or involved with this event.
We are not involved or have helped in any way up to this point. We do not want to take credit for those that are working on this event. In the name of Freedom and The Constitution, we cheer them on and wish them the best! This is the very fabric our nation is founded on, and the open border has been a severe problem for years.
If anyone from TPC is involved in this or anything else, it is them as an individual.
As always God bless and Honk Honk!!

–Marcus Sommers, post in The People’s Convoy – Official Facebook group, Jan 26, 2024

Of course, the claims that The People’s Convoy is not involved in this new Border Convoy are somewhat comforting, considering how much of a disaster the People’s Convoy turned out to be. But at the same time, the fact that the new convoy is following almost the same exact formula as the previous one screams to me that the whole thing might be a giant scam by people who are simply trying to replicate the initial success of the first convoy. The GiveSendGo not even including an actual name of the recipient is very concerning, and probably a good indication that the whole donation thing is probably a scam.

The final destinations of the Convoy on February 3rd include:

• Yuma, AZ
• San Ysidro, CA
• Eagle Pass at Quemado, TX

I’m especially concerned for the residents of Quemado, TX. With a population of only 230, this small town is going to be in for some turbulent times as the convoy potentially sets up for another multi-month occupation. I hope that the Border Convoy does not fall into the same situation as the People’s Convoy, and instead disbands after only a few days, taking their statement of a successful convoy and protest as a “win”. But only time will tell I suppose.

I hope I’m wrong on this. I hope the Border Convoy is wildly successful at making its statement, and ends on a positive and peaceful note. However, based upon it following similar patterns as the previous convoy, I’m not holding my breath.

Opinion article by Ken Buckler, President and Managing Editor. All opinions are his own, and do not reflect those of our clients or sponsors.