Amy Biehl
Amy Elizabeth Biehl (April 26, 1967 – August 25, 1993) was a white American graduate of Stanford University and an Anti-Apartheid activist in South Africa. She studied at the University of the Western Cape in Cape Town as a scholar in the Fulbright Program.
When 26-year-old Biehl drove a friend home to the township of Guguletu, outside Cape Town, on August 25, 1993, a black mob pelted her car with stones and smashed its windows while shouting racial epithets. Biehl was struck in the head with a brick, then dragged from her car and surrounded by a mob who stoned and stabbed her to death while she begged for her life.[1] Four of Biehl's murderers were convicted for her killing; however, in 1998, all were pardoned by South Africa's Truth and Reconciliation Commission. Biehl's family supported release of the killers, and her father shook the murderers' hands, stating that
| “ | The most important vehicle of reconciliation is open and honest dialogue...we are here to reconcile a human life which was taken without an opportunity for dialogue. When we are finished with this process we must move forward with linked arms.[1] | ” |
In 1994, Biehl's parents, Linda and Peter, founded the Amy Biehl Foundation Trust to develop and empower youth in the townships, in order to discourage further violence.[1] In 1999, Biehl's parents were honored with the Aline and Norman Felton Humanitarian Award.[2]
In his speech accepting the Congressional Gold Medal on 23 September 1998, Nelson Mandela said:
| “ | Among those we remember today is young Amy Biehl. She made our aspirations her own and lost her life in the turmoil of our transition, as the new South Africa struggled to be born in the dying moments of apartheid. Through her, our peoples have also shared the pain of confronting a terrible past, as we take the path towards the reconciliation and healing of our nation.[3] | ” |
On August 25, 2010, on the 17th anniversary of Biehl's death, a bronze plaque mounted on a stone was unveiled by the U.S. Ambassador, Donald Gips, and Biehl's mother, Linda Biehl, at the Cape Town site where she was killed.[4]
Amy Biehl High School in Albuquerque, New Mexico is named in her honor.[5]
[edit] References
- ^ a b c Peacemaker Hero: Amy Biehl
- ^ Death Penalty Focus
- ^ Nelson Mandela. "Speech Accepting the Congressional Gold Medal"
- ^ "Memorial to Amy Biehl unveiled in South Africa", United States Diplomatic Mission to South Africa.
- ^ Amy Biehl Community School at Rancho Viejo in Santa Fe New Mexico is also names for her. Amy Biehl High School: Our History
[edit] External links
  |
This biographical article about a United States activist is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it. |
 |
This biographical article about a minority rights activist is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it. |
 |
This United States biographical article related to crime is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it. |
- 1967 births
- 1993 deaths
- Murder in 1993
- Anti-apartheid activists
- Hate crimes
- Fulbright Scholars
- American people murdered abroad
- Stanford University alumni
- People murdered in South Africa
- Deaths by stabbing
- University of the Western Cape alumni
- American activist stubs
- Minority rights activist stubs
- American crime biography stubs
