Buddhist monks bring walk for peace to Richmond

Crowds gathered in Richmond to welcome a group of Buddhist monks on a cross-country “Walk for Peace” that began in Fort Worth, Texas and will conclude in Washington, D.C. The procession, marked by prayer, chanting and silent walking, aims to promote inner peace, mindfulness and nonviolence. Dressed in traditional robes and traveling with minimal belongings, the monks paused in Richmond for community interactions, meditation sessions and brief public gatherings.

Virginia Governor Abigail Spanberger hosted a peace event at Richmond City Hall and issued a proclamation recognizing the walk; attendees praised the monks and highlighted the need for compassion amid social divisions. Supporters and local residents lined sidewalks, joined portions of the route, and helped provide food, water and overnight accommodations through local Buddhist centers and volunteer networks.

Organizers described the journey as spiritual rather than political, focused on individual reflection and the cultivation of compassion rather than protests or demands. The walk’s simplicity—quiet steps, prayers and sustained discipline—was intended to contrast with more confrontational public demonstrations and to invite contemplation among passersby. Participants said the monks’ presence encouraged slowing down and considering peaceful responses to injustice and polarization.

Local volunteers and authorities coordinated logistics to ensure safety and minimal disruption to traffic. The walk’s itinerary includes stops for meditation, meetings with faith leaders and public prayers in the capital, where organizers expect a concluding series of events but no formal political lobbying. Observers noted the walk’s symbolic power: by bringing a sustained, nonviolent practice into urban spaces, the monks aim to demonstrate that peace-building begins with personal mindfulness and everyday acts of care.

For many in Richmond the procession provided a rare, calming public moment that sparked conversations about mindfulness, stress and the role of spirituality in civic life. While immediate policy change is not the goal, organizers hope the visible act of walking and praying across cities prompts individual reflection and sustained community commitment to compassion and nonviolence.