Liberators in Action: Monks Walk for Peace

Many in our country today may be stoked over our illegal, aggressive act of violence in Venezuela. But America’s long history with covert actions and regime change in Latin America has been the most notable driver of gang violence in those countries and the ongoing waves of immigration north to the U.S.

When we don’t get what we want from a nation whose resources we covet, it’s our tradition to set up a pretext, attack,  take over that country, and extract all precious resources we can grab. We do this by propping up brutal dictatorships who ensure those riches flow to us, and not the citizens of that land. Labeled “operations” instead of wars, they have killed tens of thousands of people over the last five decades. But the only people who benefit are the wealthy elites. It impoverishes the rest.

Under the guise of preventing the spread of socialism in Latin America, our legacy has been anything but peaceful. Guatemala in 1954. Chile in 1973. Argentina’s Dirty War from 1976-1983. Nicaragua from 1981-88. Grenada in 1983. Panama in 1989.  El Salvador from 1980-1992. And now, Venezuela.

Fortunately, the world is still filled with unsung heroes who remind us that peace is the only sensible way forward.

In late October 2025, two dozen Buddhist monks and their dog, Aloka, left Fort Worth, Texas, to begin an arduous 2,300-mile “Walk for Peace.”

Highlighting Buddhism’s long tradition of activism for peace, the monks’ journey is taking them through 10 states before reaching their Washington, DC destination.

Early on, the journey tested their spirit. As they walked through Texas, a truck struck their escort van, injuring one monk and leaving another with life-altering injuries. Yet, they remain dedicated to their mission, meeting crowds of people along the way who cheer them on and offer them food and water or a place to stay.

Chronicling their arduous experience on social media, one recent post read, “We do not walk alone. We walk together with every person whose heart has opened to peace, whose spirit has chosen kindness, whose daily life has become a garden where understanding grows."

For their unwavering dedication to peace and kindness, we honor these monks and celebrate them as our first Liberators in Action for 2026.

Below, you can watch the monks passing through Georgia in late December.