A cavalcade of more than 1,000 large trucks, recreational vehicles and cars caused a traffic jam on a major highway surrounding Washington D.C. Sunday in an effort to protest 'unconstitutional' coronavirus restrictions, such as mask and vaccine mandates.

The self-styled People's Convoy, estimated to span 30 miles, left traffic in a standstill along the 64-mile Beltway after it departed from the Hagerstown Speedway in Maryland.

Convoy organizer Brian Brase instructed the group to 'hold the line' before they embarked on their journey. They planned to circle the interstate twice, at the minimum speed limit, to slow traffic and get their message to lawmakers.

'I beg of you to stay with the convoy. I beg of you to stay with the convoy and then come back down here, meet again and talk about our next plan,' he cautioned. 

A group of semi-tractors led the convoy, followed by trucks with trailers, campers and then cars. According to DailyMail.com reporters trailing the group, traffic crawled for a while - traveling at speeds of about 10 to 20 miles per hour - and reached a 'comfortable speed' of travel, before causing a standstill on the entire beltway.

The People's Convoy planned to completed two complete loops around the Beltway, which they estimated would take four to five hours. However, given the impacts on traffic the drivers will likely be on the route longer.

After completing the loop, the group will return to Hagerstown for a rally - the third in a row held at the speedway. Sunday's rally will feature speeches from doctors, convoy organizers and members of the U.S. Freedom Flyers, a volunteer group of transportation officials that fight for medical freedom.

Although the group did not follow a route into D.C. proper during Sunday's journey, Brase said 'it does not mean it won't happen' in the future.