PGHIMC - Pittsburgh Independent Media Center

Coast to Coast Peace Walk to Pass Through Pittsburgh
by amy fay kaplan Sunday, Nov. 16, 2003 at 7:17 AM
walkfordennis@kucinich.us (email address validated) 866 413 3664

Four walkers are crossing the nation from Maine to CA advocating peace and raising awareness about Dennis Kucinich's Presidential candidacy. They will be in Pittsburgh Nov 21-22.

On Friday, October 17, 21-year old Jonathan Meier began his coast-to-coast journey from Portland, Maine, to the California coast by foot. This is the second time this Iowan has been inspired to undertake a long-distance peace walk. This time, as he makes connections with individuals and communities along his route, Jonathan intends his peace pilgrimage to raise awareness about his Presidential candidate of choice: Dennis J Kucinich, who inspired him to make this journey. The walk is intended to unite all progressive issues, politicians, Americans, humans, for the causes of peace and justice.

"This is the moment that will change the course of history, because this is the moment that people decided to come together for one grand cause: the cause of global peace. Furthermore, I am walking to let people know that there is someone else who shares this vision -- our vision.

This someone is running for President of the United States. I walk because people need to know -- people deserve to know � that Dennis John Kucinich is running for president in 2004!" Meier said at his kickoff rally in Maine.

Since the kickoff rally on October 17, the Steps for Peace walk has passed through New Hampshire, Vermont, western Massachusetts, Connecticut, NYC, New Jersey, Delware, Maryland., and DC. Individuals in all these communities have been eager to support the walkers and meet them for potlucks, gatherings, local walk routes, vigils, and house parties.

On October 30, three more walkers joined Jonathan for the duration of the journey: Clara Wilson, age 25, from Lexington, Kentucky feels that this is the most effective way for her to spread DK's message of peace and environmental protection to communities all over the nation. Tom Schmitz, age 48, is a self-described "recovering management consultant" whose career has spanned over twenty years in the United States and Asia. Tom joined the walk in NYC with his son Tak Schmitz, age 14. An outspoken anti-racist, Tak cares deeply about issues regarding world peace, Iraq, and Living Wage. He wants to keep a daily journal and write a book about his experience on the road, titled "Coast to Coast for Dennis Kucinich".

Jonathan, Tom, Clara, and Tak, commemorated Veteran's Day in Washington, D.C. last week, where they also lobbied their Congresspeople for a Department of Peace. The second leg of the journey will take the walkers through Western PA, Ohio, Michigan, Indiana, and Illinois to Iowa, and the third to San Francisco, California by February 29, 2004: two days before the CA primary election.

They are travelling through PA via Routes 30, passigng Gettysburg, Chambersburg, Bedford, Johnstown, Greensburg. They will arrive in Pittsburgh Friday afternoon November 21, and gather in solidarity to send off the buses leaving for Fort Benning, GA. They will be relying on local support for overnight accommodation, food donations, and company on the road.

More than 300 volunteers from over 41 states have offered to join the walk when it arrives in their region! These volunteers will be following in the American tradition of conscientious walkers that includes Martin Luther King, Jr. and those who marched for civil rights 40 years ago, as well as Kucinich supporter Granny D, who crossed the country for campaign finance reform in 1999.

�Jonathan is proving that one person can make a difference. We must all be on the march as we move forward with courage, and with joy we will arrive at our next destination, 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue!� �Dennis Kucinich, October 17, 2003

PA contact: ed.grystar@kucinich.us
National contact: amy.kaplan@kucinich.us

www.kucinich.us/walkfordennis/walkfordennis.php

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