Contact Voices for Creative Nonviolence at 773-878-3815 to confirm walk route, as well as to let us know when you will be joining the Walk to help us plan logistics.
On June 27, the Walk for Justice enters the Chicago area. Begun on June 6th on the steps of the state Capitol in Springfield, the walk has covered 12 to 15 miles a day. The final days of the walk will emphasize ending the war in and occupation of Iraq; securing fully funded high quality health care for veterans and all residing in the U.S.; and the obligation of the U.S. to provide full funding for the reconstruction of Iraq.
The Walk for Justice is organized by Voices for Creative Nonviolence and emphasizes dialogue with those we meet along the way. Passing through the heartland of Illinois, we’ve engaged many in conversations about the war in Iraq. A number of soldiers who served in Iraq initiated conversations with us. While being clear that they disagreed with our position on the war, the conversations allowed us to learn from their experience and for them to learn our reasons for opposing the war. Such conversations broke down the us-versus-them dichotomy that so often pervades debate about the war.
The Walk for Justice invites you and others to join us in these final days of the walk. We ask that all who join the Walk be respectful of the attempt to engage in dialogue with those we meet along the way. We ask that signs which are brought to the Walk be mindful of this tone of dialogue and avoid criticism of individuals, regardless of the individual’s position in the government. Our belief is that the war in Iraq continues because of the actions of both political parties in Congress and the White House and that both the Democratic and Republican parties have actively supported waging war against Iraq going back to 1990. We also ask that signs brought to the Walk refrain from the use of profanity.
We have not sought permits for the Walk route. Our plan is to be on city sidewalks (or shoulders of roads where sidewalks do not exist) and proceed in such a way which does not obstruct other pedestrian or vehicular traffic. If police departments should decide to intervene along the Walk route, we ask that participants allow designated peacekeepers (who will be wearing lime green safety vests) to engage in dialogue with the police to keep the walk moving forward.
June 26 — DeKalb to Elburn, following Hwy 38 to Hwy 47.
7:30 a.m. — Begin from DeKalb.
End at Lions Park in Elburn (W South St and Filmore St) Map
June 27 — Elburn to St. Charles to Batavia, following Hwy 47 to Hwy 38 to 3rd Street in Geneva to Hwy 25 to Wilson St to River St
9:00 a.m. — Begin at Lions Park in Elburn Map
Approximately 11:00 a.m. — Vigil at Illinois Youth Center prison (on Hwy 38 just west of Peck Rd in St. Charles) Map
If walk is not present when you arrive, we suggest driving west along Hwy 38 to greet walkers and obtain new estimated time of arrival.
4:00 p.m. — Arrive at Dennis Hastert’s office at 27 N River St in Batavia for a 1 hour vigil Map
Evening Event with Fox Valley Citizens for Peace. Time and location to be determined.
June 28 — Batavia to Wheaton.
8:00 a.m. to 9:00 a.m. — Vigil at Speaker of the House Dennis Hastert’s office at 27 N River St in Batavia. Map
7:00 p.m. — Blanchard Hall #339; Wheaton College; 501 College Ave; Wheaton, IL — Discussion with Kathy Kelly and Dan Pearson of Voices for Creative Nonviolence
Walk route will follow Wilson St east to Kirk Rd. north to Hubbard Ave to Pierson Dr to Suncast Lane to Louis Bork Dr to Fabyan Parkway Map
Walk route follows Fabyan Parkway which turns into Washington Street which turns into Geneva Rd Map
Follow Geneva Rd to Country Farm Road south to Manchester Rd Map
Follow Manchester Rd east to Bridge St south to Liberty Dr east to Main St north to Seminary Ave west to Wheaton College Map
Evening event at Wheaton College
June 29 — Wheaton to Hines VA
7:30 a.m. — Begin walk at Wheaton College Map
4:30 to 6:30 p.m. — Hines VA Vigil, 5th and Roosevelt Rd, Maywood, IL Map
Walk route follows College Ave which becomes Hill Ave which becomes Glen Oak Rd
In Lombard, turn right onto S Finley Rd to Maple Ave east to Highland Ave north to St. Charles Road Map
St. Charles Rd east to Wolf Rd south to Roosevelt Rd east to Hines VA
June 30 — Hines VA to Cook County Jail to Jesse Brown VA Medical Center
8:30 a.m. — Begin walk at Hines VA at 5th and Roosevelt in Maywood Map
Follow Roosevelt Rd east to California Ave south to Cook County Jail (2700 S California Ave, Chicago) Map
Vigil outside of Cook County Jail then follow California Ave North to Roosevelt Rd east to Damen north to Jesse Brown VA Medical Center (820 S Damen Ave, Chicago) Map
July 1 — Jesse Brown VA Medical Center to Senn High School 8:30 a.m. - Begin walk at Jesse Brown VA Medical Center, 820 S Damen Ave, Chicago, IL Map Walk route will follow Ogden Ave to Ashland Ave Map Follow Ashland Ave north to Bryn Mawr east to Glenwood north to Senn High School at 5900 N Glenwood, Chicago, IL Map
7:00 p.m. — Walk for Justice presentation with Kathy Kelly at the St. Gertrude Parish Social Hall, 1420 W Granville Ave, Chicago Map
July 2 — St. Gertrude Parish in Chicago to Winnetka 11:00 a.m. — Begin walk at St. Gertrude Parish, 1420 W Granville Ave, Chicago. Map
Conclude walk at Pine St and Green Bay Rd in Winnetka
Walk route follows Ridge Ave north to Green Bay Road (in Evanston) north to Pine St (in Winnetka) Map - St. Gertrude to Evanston
5:30 p.m. — Lakefront Picnic and Sing Out — Dawes Park — Evanston, IL More information
July 3 — Winnetka to Fort Sheridan 8:30 a.m. — Begin walk at Pine St and Green Bay Rd in Winnetka Map
Conclude at Fort Sheridan in Highland Park, IL Map
July 4 — Fort Sheridan to North Chicago VA 8:30 a.m. — Begin with vigil at Fort Sheridan Map
Walk follows Sheridan Rd to E Westleigh Rd (follow west) to Green Bay Rd (follow north) to Buckley Rd (follow east)
Conclude at North Chicago VA Map
July 5 — North Chicago VA to U.S. Military Entrance Processing Command
9:00 to 10:00 a.m. — Vigil at North Chicago VA Map
10:00 a.m. — Walk to U.S. Military Entrance Processing Command Map
