A group of Buddhist monks draped in burnt‑orange robes arrived in Washington, D.C., on Tuesday after a 2,300‑mile spiritual trek that has drawn thousands of supporters across nine states. Their “Walk for Peace,” which began in Texas more than three months ago, has become an unexpected symbol of unity at a moment of deep national tension.
Many who gathered to greet them said the journey reflects a longing for compassion in a fractured country. “People want this,” said Joan Donoghue, 59, of Silver Spring, Maryland, who came with four friends. “I went on Sunday in Virginia and waited outside for a long time. Everyone I spoke to said the same thing: our country needs this. We feel divided, and people want more kindness, more compassion, more peace.”
The monks have walked through freezing temperatures, winter storms and sheets of sleet, at times barefoot, determined to spread what they describe as a message of “peace, loving kindness, and compassion across America and the world.” Their companion, a rescue dog from India named Aloka now known online as “the Peace Dog” has become a social‑media favorite along the way.
Their arrival comes as the United States faces rising political strain. President Donald Trump’s aggressive immigration policies have led to surges of federal agents and National Guard deployments in several cities, with both citizens and immigrants killed in recent enforcement operations.
“We walk not to protest, but to awaken the peace that already lives within each of us,” said Bhikkhu Pannakara, the spiritual leader guiding the march. “Unity and kindness begin within us and can radiate outward to families, communities, and society as a whole.”
The monks will spend two days in Washington before concluding their journey on Thursday in Annapolis, Maryland.
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