Rev. Dr. Turner’s 45th Reparations Walk to culminate at West Virginia State Capitol

PRESS RELEASE

Charleston, WV – June 2026 — On June 12, 2026, Rev. Dr. Robert Turner of Empowerment Temple AME Church (Baltimore) will complete his 45th consecutive walk for reparations—a 40-mile pilgrimage of reflection, remembrance, and community dialogue—at the West Virginia State Capitol in Charleston. The #40MilesFor40Acres Juneteenth Justice Walk begins at Gauley Bridge and follows U.S. Route 60, a corridor steeped in the state’s labor history.

Dr. Turner walks in a spirit of repair. This year’s journey again centers truth-telling around the Hawks Nest Tunnel disaster (1930–1935), where hundreds of workers—many African American—labored in lethal conditions, with victims buried in unmarked graves where they fell. Dr Turner’s book “Building a Culture of Repair” also unites this spirit.

“This walk is about truth-telling—with history, with one another, and toward a shared future of reparations,” said Rev. Dr. Turner. “In my 45th year, I walk not out of habit, but out of hope. It is our spirited opportunity to reflect, to listen, and to build accountable relationships that strengthen our communities.”

The route—called a “Black Byway” of Route 60—honors West Virginia’s legacy of Black leadership, including attorney and legislator T. Gillis Nutter and journalist and civil rights pioneer J.R. Clifford, whose work advanced education, public access, and legal equity.

At the Capitol, participants will present state leaders with a set of forward-looking aspirations, including:

• Formal acknowledgment of the Hawks Nest Tunnel’s historical impact
• A public process to document labor history and its long-term effects
• Continued dialogue on policies supporting equitable economic opportunity

Media and Outreach Communication Organizers Mocha Ochoa and Nathan Shroyer of the West Virginia Organizing Committee emphasized: “This is a public invitation to come together across traditions and perspectives—to honor the past, engage the present, and help shape a future rooted in dignity, health, and shared responsibility.”

Community members, faith institutions, schools, and civic groups may join segments of walk, host gatherings, drive support vehicles, offer programs, and/or share messages of reflection.

Walk takes place on June 12, leading up to West Virginia Day (June 20) —a fitting moment to reflect on state history and renew commitments to community well-being.

For more information, partnership opportunities, or media inquiries:
nathannola@gmail.com | chicaochoa@gmail.com

About #40MilesFor40Acres
Led by Rev. Dr. Robert Turner, #40MilesFor40Acres is a movement connecting historical reflection with community-based action through organized walks, public engagement, and dialogue across regions. This marks Dr. Turner’s 45th annual walk for reparations.