Monks’ Walk for Peace draws thousands to DeKalb streets

A group of Buddhist monks traveling through multiple states on foot recently made stops in DeKalb County – and drew thousands of residents to the streets to watch part of their pilgrimage.
The monks entered DeKalb County from Clayton County under escort by the DeKalb County Police Department, supported by a coordinated, multi-agency effort to ensure safety and order throughout the day, according to officials.

DeKalb County CEO Lorraine Cochran-Johnson personally met the monks at the county line, welcoming them into DeKalb and honoring the significance of their journey. Their first stop in DeKalb was the Porter Sanford III Performing Arts and Community Center in Decatur.

“Residents of all ages, backgrounds, faiths, and cultures stood together in solemn reflection. Members of the local Buddhist community brought traditional food offerings for the monks, joined by offerings provided by DeKalb County,” stated officials. “Throughout the day, DeKalb County officials expressed deep gratitude for the overwhelming response from the community. Residents came not only to bear witness, but also to bring donations, offerings, and acts of service in honor of the monks’ sacrifice and message of peace.”

After approximately two hours, the monks continued their journey down Candler Road toward the city of Decatur, where hundreds more residents, local elected officials, and community leaders gathered for a peace rally.

Following the Decatur gathering, the monks proceeded to their overnight stop at Tobie Grant Recreation Center in the Scottdale community. There, hundreds of residents waited to greet them, offer prayers, and participate in evening chants.

Transforming Tobie Grant Recreation Center into suitable overnight accommodations required another multi-agency collaboration, stated officials.

DeKalb County’s Office of the CEO, Parks and Recreation, DeKalb County Police Department, DeKalb Fire Rescue, DeKalb Emergency Management Agency, Facilities Management, and DCTV worked alongside community partners including Frontline Response, which assisted with overnight accommodations, and Hope Through Soap, which provided portable showers for the monks.

“This was one of the most peaceful and powerful experiences I’ve ever been part of,” said DeKalb County resident Angela Morris, who attended both the Porter Sanford gathering and the evening prayers. “In a world that feels heavy, this reminded me of what community and humanity are supposed to look like.”

The next morning, Dec. 31, DeKalb County Police escorted the monks to the county line, where Gwinnett County authorities assumed escort duties as the monks’ pilgrimage continued north toward Washington, D.C.

Since beginning their journey and documenting the trek online, the group has amassed hundreds of thousands of followers who can view updated daily maps to see where the monks are traveling to and through next.

For more information, visit https://www.facebook.com/walkforpeaceusa.

The Champion Newspaper Local News Editor Christine Fonville contributed to this article.