WASHINGTON, D.C., USA — A Tacoma man is on a mission to talk with President Biden about peace.
The South Sound's resident goodwill ambassador and Peace Bus conductor Kwabi Amoah-Forson set out on a month-long road trip across the United States, what he calls the "Manifest Humanity Tour," with the goal of meeting with the Commander in Chief to discuss ways to bring the country together.
Pushing the bounds of the 1988 Mitsubishi van, Kwabi traveled over 2,700 miles by car to make it to D.C.
Along the way, Kwabi made several stops, handing out books and teaching kids about peace.
"I've learned so much about the spirit of togetherness as I've traveled on this long journey," Kwabi said. "It's been crazy and it's been tough, but I've been greatly inspired by our youth."
Kwabi was invited to a Jesuit school in Toledo, Ohio, he met with activists in Detroit, and he was even invited to the Muhammed Ali Center in Louisville Kentucky.
"Whatever I’ve started doesn’t do justice to what Muhammad Ali means to me. What he stood for and how he impacted me and still inspires me to stand up for people," Kwabi said.
He also made stops in Boise, Salt Lake City, Denver and St. Louis to spread his message.
"The idea for this whole campaign was to plant seeds of peace, so our children, when they grow older, they can have a heart to come together and a means toward becoming one," Kwabi said.
The Peace Bus rolled into the nation's capital on Thursday. Kwabi spent the afternoon distributing books and engaging with people outside the White House.
"I am here in the hopes to meet with President Biden, that's what it's all about to talk about how we can come together, it's the most important conversation," Kwabi said, "to have a conversation with the Commander in Chief about togetherness, that's what it's all about."
Whether or not The Peace Bus team is successful in meeting with President Biden remains to be seen but their impact has already been felt by cities and states across the country. You can follow the journey and campaign for peace online at www.ThePeaceBus.org