The Walk for Democracy arrives in DC
On April 1, 2001, a pilgrim left Seattle, WA for a journey historically undertaken by countless others: to inspire, empower, educate, and learn. Jeanette Wallis, is now approaching her goal of Washington, D.C., expecting to complete her walk to the White House in the second week of June.
www.thewalkfordemocracy.org
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
June 8, 2003
On April 1, 2001, a pilgrim left Seattle, WA for a journey historically undertaken by countless others: to inspire, empower, educate, and learn. 2 years, 13 states, 6 pairs of shoes, and over 3,500 miles later, Jeanette Wallis, 32, is approaching her goal of the Washington, D.C. With her Black Lab, Sherpa, Jeanette will walk the C&O Towpath for the final 187-mile stretch, expecting to arrive at the White House in the second week of June.
Ms. Wallis campaign officially began on January 20th of that same year, when George W. Bush took an oath to represent the people of America. In his inauguration speech, he urged us to be, "... citizens, not subjects. Citizens - not spectators". On the other side of the country, Jeanette took a similar oath in front of 2,000 citizens protesting what many called a 'Presidential Coup', vowing to walk from Seattle to the White House in what she calls, "a literal interpretation of the First Amendment right to petition the government for the redress of grievances". She began collecting 'grievances' - handwritten letters addressed to Mr. Bush - since his Inauguration Day, and has been on the road collecting these grievances through a tumultuous period in American history which also saw September 11th, the War on Terror, and the aftermath of each. A practicing Buddhist reared in Texas by a conservative Christian military family, Ms. Wallis has been uniquely qualified among peace activists - balancing her commitment to peace and non-violence with a more practical understanding of the causes underlying the recent patriotic fervor, particularly in rural areas.
Non-partisan and without organizational sponsorship, support or funding, Ms. Wallis has collected letters from a broad spectrum of people from every walk of life. Along the way, she has spoken at schools, rallies, picket lines, and protests about her experiences in activism since December, 1999, when she was tear-gassed for over 5 hours while walking home from the store during the World Trade Organization protests. Prior to this, the former psychiatric counselor had never been involved in politics or protesting, believing that there was little that one person could do to affect political change. After being tear-gassed, she hit the streets to talk with the activists involved in the anti-globalization campaign. She realized that politics is daily life - it is our jobs, the food we eat, the air we breath, and the water we drink. Inspired by the success of the protest, Ms. Wallis became an organizer - helping to build a coalition between labor, environmental, student, and human rights groups in the Puget Sound area which continues today.
When the Supreme Court stopped the counting of the votes during the Presidential Election of 2000, Jeanette decided she wanted to do more. Appalled by the lack of representation from politicians in general, she felt that many citizens would have serious grievances against an administration they did not even elect, and she wished to be an outlet for their concerns. She also wanted to use her own experiences in organizing to inspire others to take a more active role in the decisions which affect their lives. Around this time, she heard about Doris "Granny D." Haddock, who walked across America at the age of 90 for campaign finance reform. Inspired by her level of commitment, "The Walk for Democracy" was born.
Understanding that social progress can only be measured by its smallest groups, she has focused her campaign on the people of rural America. A sample of some of the hundreds of grievances she's collected can be found on her website, www.thewalkfordemocracy.org - along with pictures, press clippings, and an online journal she has maintained throughout the journey.
Upon her arrival in D.C., Ms. Wallis will spend a few days attempting to hand-deliver these grievances to Mr. Bush. Regardless of this outcome, Jeanette hopes to write about her experiences and publish the letters before continuing her work as an agitator and organizer in rural America - a mission she hopes to pursue in some form for many years.
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www.TheWalkForDemocracy.org
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