The Walk for Justice seeks to raise five key interconnected issues: ending the U.S. war in and occupation of Iraq, with full funding for veterans benefits and for rebuilding Iraq; no military action or punitive economic sanctions against Iran; ending U.S. participation in and complicity with torture; a nonviolent and just resolution to the war in Israel-Palestine; and the radical reformation of the jail and prison system towards rehabilitation rather than being purely punitive.

“Our country chooses to fund war-making and jail-building rather than the Common Good,” says Jeff Leys, Co-Coordinator of Voices for Creative Nonviolence. “We call for the building of schools, not prisons-to commit to welcoming youth into adulthood rather than criminalizing and jailing youth. We seek fully funded health care for veterans and universal health care for all, not war-making. Our country chooses war rather than rebuilding the Gulf Coast devastated by hurricanes and rather than rebuilding Iraq devastated by 15 years of U.S. led economic and military warfare.”

The Walk for Justice is organized by Voices for Creative Nonviolence (VCNV). Voices was formed by individuals who traveled to and supported delegations to Iraq to challenge U.S. economic sanctions against Iraq. In the past year, Voices has organized three fasts seeking an end to economic and military warfare against Iraq; sponsored a delegation to study Arabic in Damascus, Syria; and journeyed to a health care clinic in the Kurdish region of Iraq.

WALK SCHEDULE - June 8 - July 5

June 8: Cantrall to Greenview.
9:00 a.m. — Begin walk in Cantrall. Following Hwy 29 North.
End Walk at park at E Adams St and N Blaine St in Greenview.

June 9: Greenview to Mason City
8:30 a.m. — Begin Walk at park at E Adams St and N Blaine St in Greenview. | Map
Walk follows Hwy 29 North to Old Hwy 29 to Mason City End Walk at Memorial Park in Mason City along Highway 10 on the east end of the city. | Map

June 10: Mason City to San Jose
8:30 a.m. — Begin Walk at Mason City park. | Map
Walk exits Mason City along N Main St to Hwy 29 North. Follow Hwy 29 North to Hwy 136. Follow Hwy 136 to San Jose. End Walk at San Jose city park at S 4th St and W Arch St | Map

June 11: San Jose to Green Valley
8:30 a.m. — Begin walk at San Jose park. | Map
Walk follows Hwy 136 West to Hwy 29 North to Green Valley. Enter Green Valley via S. Church St.
End Walk at Main St and South Church St in Green Valley | Map

June 12: Green Valley to Pekin Federal Prison
9:00 a.m. — Begin Walk at Main St and Church St in Green Valley. Walk follows Main St west to Hwy 29 North to Pekin.
Vigil at Pekin Federal Prison upon arrival, approximate arrival time between 3:00 to 3:30 p.m. Prison located on south edge of Pekin at 2600 S Second St (also known as Hwy 29) in Pekin.
Please note that this is an approximate time for the vigil and will be dependent upon weather conditions, walkers’ stamina, etc. If you arrive and no walkers are yet present, you may want to drive south a little ways on Hwy 29 to check on our location and revised arrival time. | Map

June 13: Pekin Federal Prisons to Caterpillar Headquarters in Peoria
8:00 - 8:45 a.m. — Vigil at Pekin Federal Prisons, 2600 S Second St (also known as Hwy 29). | Map
8:45 a.m. — Begin walk from Pekin Federal Prison.
Vigil at Caterpillar Headquarters at 100 NE Adams St, Peoria upon arrival. Approximate arrival time of 3:30 to 4:00 p.m. | Map of Caterpillar Headquarters

Walk route today will begin by following Hwy 29 North from Pekin federal prisons. Please check back closer to the date for more precise walk route to Caterpillar, or contact us via email at or via phone at 773-878-3815.

June 14: Peoria to Washington
8:00 - 9:00 a.m. — Vigil at Caterpillar Headquarters, 100 NE Adams St, Peoria. | Map
9:00 a.m. — Walk begins to Washington. Walk route is still in formation. Please confirm walk route via email at jeffleys@vcnv.org or via phone at 773-878-3815.

June 15: Washington to Eureka
8:30 a.m. — Begin walk, following Hwy. 24.
End Walk at Woodford County Courthouse, 115 N Main St, Eureka. | Map
6:00 - 8:00 p.m. — Discussion at the Eureka Public Library; 202 S Main St; Eureka. | Map

June 16: Eureka to El Paso
8:30 a.m. — Begin walk at Woodford County Courthouse | Map
End Walk at Southpointe Park in El Paso.

June 17: El Paso to Minonk
8:30 a.m. — Begin Walk at South Pointe Park in El Paso | Map
End Walk at Westside Park at Washington and W 5th St in Minonk. | Map Walk follows Hwy 251 to S Chestnut St entering Minonk.

June 18: Minonk to Wenona
8:30 a.m. — Begin walk at Westside Park in Minonk. 5:15 PM | Map Walk follows Hwy 251.
End walk at park at W 1st South St and S Pine St in Wenona. | Map

June 19: Wenona to Tonica, following Hwy 251.
8:30 a.m. — Begin walk at Wenona Park at W 1st South St and S Pine St in Wenona | Map
End Walk at Peru St and Poplar St in Tonica | Map
Evening — Talk by Kathy Kelly of Voices for Creative Nonviolence. Illinois Valley Community College in Oglesby. | Map Walk follows Hwy 251 North.

June 20: Tonica to LaSalle, following Hwy 251 to Hwy 351.
8:30 a.m. — Begin walk at Peru St and Poplar St in Tonica. | Map
End at Hegler Park (St. Vincent Ave and McArthur Road) in LaSalle. | Map

June 21: LaSalle to Ottawa, following Hwy 6.
7:30 a.m. — Begin walk at Hegler Park (St. Vincents Ave and McArthur Blvd) in LaSalle. | Map
End at Thorton Park (Boyce Memorial Drive and W Lafayette St) in Ottawa | Map

June 22: Ottawa to Baker, following Hwy 23.
7:30 a.m. — Begin walk at Thornton Park in Ottawa | Map
End at N 43rd Rd and Hwy 23 just west of Baker.

June 23: Baker to Sandwich, following Hwy 23 to Hwy 34.
7:30 a.m. — Begin walk at N 43rd Rd and Hwy 23 just west of Baker.
End at Sandwich Memorial Park in Sandwich, near W Water St and S Green St. | Map
5:00 P.M. — Joining weekly vigil of the DeKalb Interfaith Peace Network in DeKalb.

June 24: Sandwich to Waterman.
8:30 a.m. — Begin at Sandwich Memorial Park in Sandwich. | Map
End at Lions Park in Waterman (at W Adams St and S Birch St) | Map

June 25: Waterman to DeKalb, following Hwy 23.
8:30 a.m. — Begin at Lions Park in Waterman. | Map
End in DeKalb

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 and Justice. 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
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 Damen VA
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 Damen VA (820 S Damen Ave, Chicago) | Map

July 1-5: Damen VA to Senn High School July 2 — Senn High School to Winnetka July 3 — Winnetka to Fort Sheridan July 4 — Fort Sheridan to North Chicago VA July 5 — North Chicago VA to U.S. Military Entrance Processing Command.

Walk information for July 1 to 5 will be posted by June 10.

For more info, and continuing updates, check the Voices for Creative Nonviolence website