Trucker's Prison Sentence Sparks A Trucker Boycott Of Colorado

[mahatmakanejeeves]

I generally don't like to post about internet campaigns, but this was in the news.

The comments to the article provide insight.

NEWS

Trucker's Prison Sentence Sparks A Trucker Boycott Of Colorado

110-year prison sentence provokes mass trucker stoppage in Colorado

By Ryan Erik King
Yesterday 12:01PM

The reaction to Rogel Aguilera-Mederos’ 110-year prison sentence has been immediate and widespread. On Thursday, the 26-year-old truck driver was found guilty on 27 different counts related to a deadly incident on Interstate 70 in Denver, Colorado. The brakes on Aguilera-Mederos’ semi-truck failed, and he crashed into stopped traffic, killing four people. The extraordinary severe mandatory sentence has faced widespread disagreement, even from the judge and the victims’ families.

A trucker-led movement has exploded on social media, especially TikTok. Truckers are refusing to drive in Colorado to get Governor Jared Polis to grant Rogel Aguilera-Mederos clemency or commute part of his sentence. The videos circulating show surreal scenes of trucks stopped on the highway shoulders lined up seemingly for miles.

Over 4 million people have signed an online petition supporting the protests’ goals. The petition stated that Aguilera-Mederos’ employer should be held accountable for what occurred. It mentions that Aguilera-Mederos had a clean driving and criminal record. Also, he fully cooperated with investigators and passed alcohol and drug tests. The petition also alleges that the trucking company had a spotty record with equipment inspections.

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