After the convoy, a group of about 125 men, women, and children gathered on the North steps of the Capitol to listen to speakers who vowed to fight Senator Boxer's effort to close forest roads, trails, and dispersed camping.

Speakers included representatives from Congressman John Doolittle's office,Assemblyman Tim Leslie's office, the BlueRibbon Coalition, Friends of the Rubicon, and the California League of Off-Road Voters.

Statements in response to the statewide protest were made by Senator Boxer's office and the California Wilderness Coalition (CWC).

Don Amador, the western representative for the BlueRibbon Coalition, said, "The main message of this protest today is that we are not going to let Senator Boxer close our favorite trails and camping areas in the National Forests."

"The CWC's claim by Jean Munoz that existing and maintained roads were left out of the proposal is just simply not true. Many of my favorite forest travelways including a segment of the designated California Back Country Discovery Trail in Humboldt County is targeted for closure in this bill," Amador said.

"A review by staff of the Los Padres National Forest states that Boxer's plan would close trails and impact the agency’s ability to manage the forest for recreation and wildfires. Designated trails in the Tahoe National Forest and elsewhere would also be closed,” Amador concluded.