A Local Activist Walked From Chicago To D.C. To Protest Gun Violence, Call For Resources

By Stephen Gossett in News on Oct 2, 2017 3:33PM

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Demetrius Nash walked the walk.

The local activist walked from Chicago all the way to Washington D.C. as a means to protest gun violence in his hometown and advocate for after-school programs for at-risk youth. Nash, who is the founder of Replace Guns With Hammers, a non-profit that aims to provide job training for young people, arrived in the nation's capital last week. He raised more than $28,000 for his walking campaign.

Nash, 39, of Bronzeville, started his multi-state journey on Aug. 4 and arrived in D.C., some 700 miles later, last Monday.

In D.C., Nash met with high-profile lawmakers, including Danny Davis, Bobby Rush, Nancy Pelosi and civil-rights leader John Lewis. "I applaud your commitment to promoting non-violence and inclusion," Lewis wrote of Nash.

Nash served eight years in prison and another four years of probation and now seeks to develop "alternative options for children to spend their free time instead of being in the streets in harms way," he wrote on a fundraiser page. Nash was inspired by Nelson Mandela's autobiographical Long Walk to Freedom, he wrote.

“What it comes down to is poverty-stricken communities have the same problems-gun violence, police violence, domestic violence. People are hurting all over the country,” Nash said, according to WTNH, in Connecticut.

Former Chicago Bulls star and Englewood native Derrick Rose donated $7,000 to Nash's campaign in August.

Rose wrote at the time:

"We’re proud of all the great work you’re doing to save the youth of Chicago and providing a framework for at-risk youth for sustainability by providing training for a trade and mentoring via positive and successful mentors. God bless you with safe travels on your journey.”

Nash is now back in Chicago. "It’s Not Over Now The Work Begins," he posted on social media after his return. You can find documentation of his journey on his Instagram page here and see photos and video from his travels, and from some of his meetings with legislators, below.