Why the mayor of Apex gave a gold-colored shoe to the monks on the Walk for Peace
AI-generated summary reviewed by our newsroom.
- Mayor Jacques Gilbert presented a golden shoe to monks during Walk for Peace.
- Social media reaction mixed; supporters praised gesture, critics called it self-promotion.
- Monks traveled 2,300 miles from Texas to D.C., receiving symbolic honors along route.
Apex Mayor Jacques Gilbert presented a unique token to the venerable monks as they walked through Wake County for peace this weekend: a gold-colored shoe, like the ones he frequently wears.
Elected officials from Apex and other communities gathered to honor the monks at Apex High School on Friday night.
After reading proclamation calling Friday “Walk for Peace Day 2026,” Gilbert said he had one more presentation to make.
“What I would like to present to you, and, is my honor as a mayor, to present to you [is] a golden shoe, as you have illuminated a journey that we all can be inspired by,” he said to applause, laughter and a cheer in the stands.
“Not many people have these shoes,“ he said, “but it’s my honor to present this to you on behalf of the town.”
“Thank you for being a blessing,” he added.
The golden shoe is like those Gilbert is seen wearing on social media, during council meetings and at special events, including the proclamation reading. The number “32” can be seen on the side of the shoe that one of the monks is holding in a photo posted on Facebook — a reference to Gilbert as the town’s 32nd mayor.
Gilbert said he was proud to present the monks with the “prestigious Mayoral Golden Shoe Leadership of Honor.” In an interview, he said this is a new award that community members will be able to nominate people for in the future.
He also said this was the second time the award has been given out, with the first going to Annie Scott for her many contributions to the town.
The town of Apex did not respond to questions from The News & Observer about the honor, including if the town purchased the golden shoe, which is not made of actual gold.
“Our community came together in a powerful and beautiful way to support a shared message of peace as we welcomed our friends from Walk for Peace, the venerable monks whose journey has inspired so many,” Gilbert wrote on social media. “What was on full display was respect, unity, and the very essence of peace. We gathered not just in presence, but in spirit, embracing what so many of us long for at our core: peace.”
Shoe generates Facebook comments
A post on the mayor’s Facebook page on Saturday generated 250, mostly positive, comments about the monks’ visit. Some specifically mentioned the golden shoe.
“Your speech was perfect, Jacques Gilbert, Mayor of Apex, NC and love the golden shoe you gave the monks!,” commented Laurie Harrison Bishop.
Another woman, Ashley Williams, wrote her daughter was “amazed by that golden shoe.”
“The moment reminded me how important it is to stay open, respectful and appreciative of different cultures and religions,” she wrote.
But others said the “honor” was inappropriate.
“It is a stretch, in my opinion, to say gifting a golden shoe to a shoeless monk is about honoring leadership for peace,” Katherine Knudsen commented. “This feels more like a way for the mayor to insert himself into the story of the monks and their walk.”
Another person, Jess Raze, called the shoe “incredibly self-promoting” and out of touch with the intent of the monks’ walk.
“It is disrespectful,” she wrote. “It is embarrassing for our town. It screams, ‘I don’t care about their message or what they walk for, I just care about the clout.’ This ‘gift’ was nothing but narcissism, especially paired with your crass golden shoes, and does nothing to represent our town.”
Gilbert responded, saying he was “open to productive conversation” but not to “criticism rooted in misinformation.”
“The monks were fully aware of the symbolic honor being presented, understood its meaning, and expressed their excitement,” he wrote. “As stated during the event, the recognition was symbolic gold representing peace, unity, compassion, and perseverance — qualities clearly demonstrated through their walk.”
On Monday night, Gilbert posted an update on Facebook and shared a message from an unnamed coordinator:
“The venerable monks were grateful and excited about their time in Apex, they are thankful for the volunteers who stayed up until 3:00 a.m. doing laundry, and deeply appreciate the symbols and support that were presented to them,” according to the update. “They loved the gold shoe and thought it was so unique. Thank you, Apex!”
The monks traveled through Wake County on a 2,300-mile journey from Texas to Washington, D.C. and have received gifts, honors and tokens of appreciation from community members and elected officials. In Raleigh, Mayor Janet Cowell gave them a city of Raleigh lapel pin and the Raleigh Police Department gave them an RPD badge.
This story was originally published January 27, 2026 at 11:53 AM.
