Peace Walkers to Stop in Hartland

A handful of people are hoping to bring peace and justice from Detroit to Lansing --  covering all 90 miles on foot.

Moveable Peace, a Michigan-based group founded in 2010 that promotes peace through community events, is holding its first-ever Peace Walk, with groups starting in Detroit, Saginaw and Grand Rapids and ending at the State Capitol steps in Lansing on Aug. 9.

The Detroit group leaves Saturday, and is passing through Hartland on Aug. 4. There aren't any formal events planned as it is designated as a rest day, but the walkers will be visiting with friends and local businesses.

Hartland resident Mares Hirchert, who is hosting the walkers that day, said she likes the event because she feels we need to expend the same amount of energy on peace that we do on war.

"We need to have a culture of peace," said Hirchert, who with her husband have been a part of peace activism and peace groups since 2003, influenced by the U.S. invasions of Iraq and Afghanistan

Hirchert also will be to help at event to be held at the when the walkers reach Brighton on Tuesday, passing out "pinwheels for peace" for kids.

That event kicks off at noon, and will feature a performance by Neil Woodward, known as Michigan's Troubadour for his extensive history of playing Michigan-related folk music.

In addition to that, a screening of the movie Peace Pilgrim: An American Sage Who Walked Her Talk will be held at 7 p.m. at , where the walkers will spend the night.

On Wednesday, the walkers will be in Howell for a 7 p.m. film and discussion at St. John’s Episcopal Church, 504 Prospect St. On Aug. 5, they plan to reach Fowlerville, stopping at St. John’s Lutheran Church, 132 S. Benjamin St.

Among those also participting include Ruby Woods of Ferndale and Yusif Barakat of Pinckney, who are both walking.

Kim Redigan, a Detroit resident and organizer of the walk, said that the walkers aren't carrying a specific agenda or message.

"The whole purpose of the walk is to listen really deeply to people," she said. "The economy is in bad straits, people are living in fear right now, there's a lot of anger in the public discourse. Our idea is to just listen deeply to people and see what creative ideas folks may have to make this a more just and peaceful state."

The walk culminates with a press conference on the Capitol steps Aug. 9, to petition the government to institute a state-wide commission for peace and justice, which would be the first of its kind at the state level.

In addition to their quest to connect with local people, the walkers also hope to do their part to help Michigan during its tough times by supporting the local businesses they come across.

"It's really important we support our local merchants, so as we're walking, we're making it a point to want to eat our meals at local diners, local coffee shops, support the small business men and women," Redigan said.

The group has reached out to churches and other organizations where they plan on traveling, and the Community Unitarian Universalists, Pax Christi and St. Paul's of Brighton all stepped up to help host the event.

"I think it's great that it's sponsored by pretty much churches throughout their walk, of all different religious diversity coming together to help support the walk," Jenny Ritter said, the parish coordinator at St. Paul's. "I think it's great that they're taking time to listen to people and to take that to Lansing."

The group formally kicks off the walk Friday in Ferndale at 7 p.m., where they are hosting a concert of local artists at A.J.'s Cafe, 240 W. Nine Mile Road.

On Sunday, the walkers will be in Farmington to host a panelist discussion on the federal budget, featuring the Oakland County chairs of both the Republican and Democratic Parties and Congressman John Conyers. That's at 7 p.m. at the First United Methodist Church of Farmington, 33112 Grand River Ave.