DAZED AND BLESSED: 300 MILES FOR JUSTICE
Peace activists from the Quaker community take to streets in protest against Trump's firm immigration policies, upholding their centuries-old religious beliefs.
WASHINGTON D.C. (PUNCH) - A fearless band of Quakers are embarking on a daring 300-mile journey from the Big Apple to the nation's capital, to rally against the Trump administration's hardline immigration stance.
This arduous trek echoes a long-standing tradition of Quaker activism, one that has seen these peace-loving folks cry foul at wars, slavery, and the denial of women's voting rights. In 2025, they're picketing Trump's immigration crackdown – embodying their commitment to fairness and unity.
Jess Hobbs Pifer, a spunky 25-year-old Quaker organizer, shares a sense of daunting urgency: "It's overwhelming to battle such potent and existential threats," she admits, "but I've gotta keep walking, step by step, towards something more just, more genuine – the path that's ridden with the true spirit of Quakerism."
Their intended destination? The U.S. Capitol, carrying a copy of the "Flushing Remonstrance" – a 17th-century plea for religious freedom, denouncing the ban on Quaker worship. A call to arms that remains strikingly relevant today, a testament to their persisting dedication to enshrining freedom for all.
THE SPIRIT OF AN UPSIDE-DOWN EAGLE
The Religious Society of Friends, known as the Quakers, flourished in 17th-century England. George Fox, a bold Englishman, started the movement by rejecting the Anglican Church's emphasis on ceremony, replacing it with a personal relationship with Christ, the so-called Inner Light. his teachings championed the rejection of creeds, church authority, and ritual forms.
History finds Quakers shaking the foundations of power structures time and time again, in their calls for the abolition of slavery, women's suffrage, and resistance to both World Wars, the U.S. role in the wars in Vietnam and Afghanistan, and the Black Lives Matter movement.
Standing tall among the trees of resistance with an upside-down American flag, waving bravely in the wind, they march on, embodying the spirit of dissent against tyranny, symbolizing the most profound act of revolution – the refusal to accept what is.
THE JOURNEY UNFOLDS
With swollen feet and heavy hearts, these modern-day pilgrims find respite in the embrace of the local Princeton Quaker group, who offer praise, guidance, and encouragement. As they prepare for another long walk towards change, their spirit remains unbroken, their resolve unwavering.
"Their courage and dedication show that one can make a difference," Casey Oware, a member of the Princeton Friends Meeting, shares, her eyes sparkling with admiration. "We're fighting the same battle together."
The world watches, eyes glued, as the days go by and the Quakers continue their march, battered by the elements, by the criticism, by their own doubts – yet undeterred, they march on, symbolizing the indomitable spirit of resistance.
CHALLENGE ON ALL FRONTS
Quaker tenets vary from Bible-centric Christianity, with rigid worship, to a looser approach centered on tolerance and self-discovery. They've faced scorn and persecution for refusing to join wars due to their principled stance on pacifism.
More recently, Quaker congregations have taken legal action against the Trump administration, challenging a rule that grants immigration agents expanded leeway to make arrests at places of worship. This suit has been joined by other religious groups, symbolizing a united front against power that disregards the rights and freedoms of the people.
And as the years go by, the fight continues – not just for the Quakers, but for millions who yearn for justice and equality, who refuse to be blind to the injustices that plague our societies. From the streets to the courts, the change-makers will persist, until America lives up to its promise – a land of the free and the home of the brave.
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PUNCH coverage receives support through our collaboration with The Conversation US, with funding from Lilly Endowment Inc. Punch is solely responsible for this content.
- In Seattle, a local Quaker group waves an upside-down American flag, symbolizing their opposition to the Trump administration's immigration policy, mirroring the Quaker tradition of resisting power structures that undermine the rights and freedoms of the people.
- Amidst their 300-mile journey from New York City to Washington D.C., these modern-day Quaker activists confront not only the government's immigration policies but also war-and-conflicts, seeking to embody their religious beliefs in general-news issues, advocating for unity and fairness.
- The Seattle Quakers' commitment to challenging the Trump administration's immigration policy extends beyond marches and protests, reaching the courts, as they join other religious groups in a legal battle against a rule that grants immigration agents expanded arrest powers at places of worship, further demonstrating their resilience and dedication to political change.
