Running for a Nuclear Free Future

The run to the Y-12 Nuclear Weapons facility was a FootPrints For Peace support action in solidarity with the non violent action that was to take place on the weekend of the 9th and 10th of August held by OREPA.

We had been involved with Brother Utsumi and Sister Denise from the Atlanta Dojo in the past and our Run was taking place at the same time their Pilgrimage to Oak Ridge was taking place. It had long been a vision of Brother Utsumi to have a four directional convergence at Oak Ridge and we decided that we would be the northern segment.

Jon Blickenstaff and I started the run in Portsmouth Ohio where the Enrichment plant for the Y-12 facility is located. Both Jon and I each ran 20 miles to open the run. We then drove to Manchester Kentucky and ran from there to Oakridge Tennessee to join the OREPA protest action at the Y-12 complex.


Manchester Kentucky is a significant spot to Peacemakers since Erik Johnson was a Prisoner Of Conscience at the Federal Correctional Institution in Manchester and the Run For Freedom - Prisoners Of Conscience - 2002 ended there.


With three days left to go Mark Webb, from Earlham College joined the Run. He lifted our spirits greatly after running by ourselves for four days.





We arrived at the Y-12 plant and were greeted by the walkers on the Atlanta To Oak Ridge Peace Pilgrimage organized by Brother Utsumi and Sister Denise. Someone in their group snapped this picture as we finished our Run and joined up with them.




This group had walked from the Atlanta Dojo to Oak Ridge. It was a great feeling to be with our brothers and sisters who had been walking at the same time we were running for this cause.

Jim Toren Reporting - 11/28/2003
Road Updates From FootPrints For Peace