One Volunteer's Dispatch from the Walk to Washington

I’ve been to Washington many times, and have arrived by bike, train, car and plane, but never on foot until now. Last week, I joined the Quaker Walk to Washington in Kensington, Maryland, for its final two days, starting about 20 miles from the Capitol. This walk was a public witness—reviving the spirit of the 1657 Flushing Remonstrance to defend religious freedom and civil liberties at a moment when these rights are being challenged. 

By then, the walkers had been on the road for 17 days, having started at the Flushing Meeting House in Queens, flags and banners in hand. They walked from meeting house to meeting house and crossed the Susquehanna River on canoe on a foggy morning. 

We arrived at Saint Paul Park on a drizzly morning, and were greeted with a bag of clementines by Jackie D., a volunteer from Bethesda Monthly Meeting, who phoned another friend to open a home so that the crew could use the bathroom. Goldie, a large Chevy van, named for its color, loaded with food and gear, pulled up a few moments later and we intercepted walkers at a different nearby park. The route, though sketched out on a map, undergoes minor changes as walkers respond to local conditions. 

I counted about 18 of us on this overcast morning. The group carried large yellow flags, mounted on bamboo poles, that contained messages from the Bill of Rights that helped frame why we were walking: “Free Protest,” “Free Beliefs,” and “Due Process,” resonated with this walker. Our organizers lifted up these messages to raise awareness that we walked in support of these inalienable rights. In addition, as the route is a mix of sidewalks and trails, the flags also increased our visibility. Friendly honks and waves of solidarity welcomed us before we transitioned onto the weekday peace and quiet of the Rock Creek park trail. 

Several hours later we arrived at another park where members of Germantown Friends Meeting greeted us with hot chocolate and a lunchtime spread. We rested for a bit, checked on our route and our emails, and then continued onward. Flush from heavy rains, Rock Creek ran high and fast. It is sometimes said that the shortest distance between two people is a story, and one of the best parts of the walk is just having the time and space to talk with one another. 

I met Steven, a member of 15th Street Meeting who had been walking for several days. He now splits his time between Kenya and the US. Natasha from Hawaii returned to the East Coast to visit friends and was moved to join the walk. Kim, another member of 15th Street but now living in Maine, had been with the walk since Flushing. We walked through the rain and many stories later arrived at the Friends Meeting House in Washington, DC, where volunteers welcomed us with a potluck supper. We thanked them for their hospitality and they in turn thanked the walkers for creating the opportunity to participate in something so hopeful and uplifting. 

We set out early the next day for the walk through the city to the US Capitol. More people, including many F/friends from the Washington DC meeting, arrived that morning for these final four miles, which culminated in a meeting for worship at the Sylvan theater near the Washington Monument. We worshipped in silence, sang, and read the original Flushing remonstrance as well as a more contemporary version updated for this occasion, incorporating messages that emerged during the walk. One of the walk organizers, Max Goodman, reminded us that our courage was needed and that it is contagious, but that it was less about the walk or those who did it than about our shared humanity. 

The initial Flushing remonstrance was a moment where people of all faiths defended the rights of Friends to worship. In 2025, this multifaith group reminded everyone that this witness remains vital. I left the walk feeling energized, inspired and hopeful. Together we are strong. I invite our community to connect with walkers, hear their stories, and live fully into the values we hold dear as Friends. It is not enough to believe—we should put our faith into practice, as these walkers modeled for us on this epic journey. 

— Ted Bongiovanni, May 27, 2025, New York, NY