Why We Walk

Who we are:

Liberty Walks is a nonpartisan, grassroots group, founded in March 2025 in Eugene, Oregon by a former academic who currently works as interfaith chaplain and counselor. 

Our director, Esther Tishman - daughter of German Jewish refugees - has been inspired all her life by our nation’s founding principle of strength through individual engagement and collective effort. E pluribus unum - out of many, one. 

What we do:

Liberty Walks promotes civic-minded connection step by step, community by community, across the United States.

Our primary activity is the Liberty Walk: a cross-country American pilgrimage. 

Beginning on July 4, 2025 - we will walk from Eugene, Oregon to Washington, DC, forging face-to-face, footstep by footstep connections as we go.

We will seek shelter each night, connecting with faith groups, civic organizations, individuals (etc) to host us in their community along the way.

The journey is as important as the destination.

Why we walk:

We Walk as an act of faith in “We the People.” 

Our core values are respect, kindness, curiosity and courage. 

We aren’t “for” or “against” anything - unless you want to say that we are for America, and against cruelty and despair.

We're striving to ease the politics of fear and resentment.

We hope to spark a new collective vision for the commonweal.

We walk with steadfast determination, convinced that walking together is better than splitting apart.  

Our original sketch for a logo of Lady Liberty walking across America... She's come a long way, and she has a long way to go! [Sketch by Kate Kimball]