The Super Bowl is always a logistical challenge for fans and organizers alike, but this year’s big game in Los Angeles could see disruptions beyond parking shortages and long lines.
The Department of Homeland Security on Wednesday warned law enforcement across the country that a convoy of truckers protesting COVID-19 vaccine mandates could be headed for SoFi Stadium.
The protested DHS warns could resemble those already taking place in Ottawa, Canada, where main roads and highways have been blocked by thousands of semis.
In a statement obtained by CNN, DHS said it "has received reports of truck drivers planning to potentially block roads in major metropolitan cities in the United States in protest of, among other things, vaccine mandates for truck drivers."
The bulletin went on to say that "the convoy will potentially begin in California as early as mid-February and arrive in Washington, DC, as late as mid-March, potentially impacting the Super Bowl LVI scheduled for 13 February and the State of the Union Address scheduled for 1 March.”
DHS is concerned the protests could cause disruptions in everything from traffic to the ability of first responders to reach people.
"While there are currently no indications of planned violence, if hundreds of trucks converge in a major metropolitan city, the potential exists to severely disrupt transportation, federal government operations, commercial facilities, and emergency services through gridlock and potential counterprotests," the bulletin continued.
A DHS spokesperson told CNN that the department “is tracking reports of a potential convoy that may be planning to travel to several U.S. cities. We have not observed specific calls for violence within the United States associated with this convoy, and are working closely with our federal, state, and local partners to continuously assess the threat environment and keep our communities safe."
Law enforcement and security officials guarding SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, Calif., are reportedly preparing for any potential disruption, and DHS told CNN that it has worked for more than a year to support security measures around the Super Bowl. The department has provided over 500 people to assist with security.
A bumper-to-bumper truck blockade by Canadians protesting the country’s COVID-19 restrictions is in its fourth day. https://t.co/lwNNO3JzuT
— The Associated Press (@AP) February 10, 2022
