By Sherry Zitter
Every great journey begins with a vision. The Walk for a New Dawn began with a seed in Western Mass on June 16, 2026, when MA Catholics for Indigenous Rights were discussing how to raise awareness of indigenous concerns. Member Linden Jenkins said, “We should walk across Massachusetts to the Statehouse,” and David Detmold said, “I would do that!”
It was he who came up with the name Walk for a New Dawn to emphasize the ways in which we want to deeply change life here for the better. And when I heard about the Walk, I knew I wanted to join.
From that meeting, David picked up the ball, joined by Wren Ribeiro, an incredible and quick organizer and social media maven — and a mere 5 weeks later, the Walk stepped off the NY state line in Williamstown! It was made possible also by so many other committed folks who sponsored suppers, hosted overnights, gathered petition signatures and letters to Maura Healey, organized a rally at the Statehouse on August 13, and so much more. (As you know, our own Jeana Edmonds organized a vote and wrote a letter from Grassroots Central Mass in support of the Walk, as well as collecting donations.)
I heard about the Walk from David and then was thrilled that Patricia O’Connor had told Nym Cooke, director of A Chorus for These Times, about the potluck in Petersham on August 4 and suggested we perform there. Nym and I organized our chorus to sing at the potluck — which was received so enthusiastically that they kept asking us for “one more song” after dinner, as the hour grew late. The potluck program was thrilling for me, as it included speakers about indigenous rights (David, speaking from the heart and holding back tears from the emotion of all the years of oppression endured by our indigenous communities), upholding the rights of immigrants (Jeana), and ways to protect wildlife through riparian bridges and culverts (Wren) that actually save communities money!
I cleared two days in my schedule to walk with the group and found my experiences deeply moving. I brought my tent and stayed overnight in a Petersham field with other walkers, hosted generously by Karen Davis of our chorus, to walk 9 miles to Templeton the next day, and walked again the following week from Maynard to Lincoln.
The Walk’s three stated goals were:
- Listening to Indigenous Voices about changing the state flag and seal and passing the five bills on the Mass Indigenous Legislative Agenda;
- Defending Our Sacred Homeland by preserving the Pine Barrens in Plymouth and protecting citizens against new nuclear reactors; and
- Honoring All Peoples by asserting the theme that “No human is illegal on stolen land; ICE out of Massachusetts!” (On August 6, during the Walk, Governor Healey signed into law the PROTECT Act, which goes a long way to shielding immigrants from ICE activity…and we still have a long way to go.)
We carried gorgeous bright quilted banners made by Sally Ally Muffin Stuffin (delightfully, this is her actual legal name which came to her in a dream!) and several pieces of literature describing the goals of the Walk and supporting materials and resources – including the urgent call asking folks to contact the six (Boston area-based) legislators on the Joint Committee on Telecommunication, Utilities and Energy which is considering whether to create and site new nuclear reactors (outside of the Boston area) for AI data centers and ask them to vote NO.
I folded literature each evening, morning and lunchtime and tucked a packet under the flag of each rural mailbox on our way, leading rousing songs most of the day to keep our energy up.
Whenever I saw someone, I stopped to explain what we were doing. I found that my opening line: “I’m part of a walk all across Massachusetts to the Statehouse” seemed to capture attention and pique curiosity. Most people were quite receptive to our message and glad to learn about the racist symbols on our state flag and the proposed repeal of a people’s referendum in the 1980s to not build more nuclear plants until both legislative houses approved safe plans for transport and storage of nuclear waste. Most agreed to call the six legislators to voice their concerns. Parents especially were worried for their children’s future safety if these plants were built.
I felt many things as I walked: the dedication of the other walkers – particularly David, who marched every step of the way from the NY/MA state line to Boston, the sense of empowerment of ordinary people who were open to learning and to acting together, and my own spiritual journey as I lent my feet and my body and my voice to a cause (or several!) in which I believed. I emerged from each of my two days tired and happy, and energized to continue the work we are all doing together for social justice.
