Genocide Survivor to Speak in Easton

Easton Day is our annual commemoration of the 1777 "Feathers of Peace" incident when a party of Burgoyne's Indians set aside hostilities and joined Easton Friends in worship.

This year's celebration features a talk by Amminadab Munyaneza entitled "Out of Genocide, a Drive for Peace." Munyaneza is the founder of the Outposts of Chat Network (formerly Religions Without Borders, USA).

He and his family survived the Rwanda genocide. After coming to the United States, he earned a masters degree in conflict resolution from Antioch University.

While studying for a PhD at the University of North Carolina, he was recruited by the UN for peace-building missions at first in Kosovo, and then in Uganda and Nepal. It was with three other U.N. representatives at the U.N. compound in Kosovo that he saw the TV images of the destruction of the World Trade Center. He has written "[We] could not understand the way Islam was being portrayed. The media did not differentiate between Islam as a peaceful religion and the acts of terrorists who have nothing to do with Islam as a religion. Religion Without Borders was formed by the four of us as a protest, to provide information about Islam."

He also started chapters of Religions Without Borders in Uganda and Nepal while serving as a U.N. Civil Affairs Officer there. After returning to the U.S., the name was changed Outposts of Chat. Bill Reagan, of the Easton Quaker Meeting, has said. "This is a stellar example of international Quaker peace work."

All are welcome to the events of Easton Day which include registration at 10:00 a.m., followed by the 10:30 a.m. telling of the “Feathers of Peace” story and Meeting for Worship (with a concurrent program for children up to twelve years old). Potluck lunch will occur at noon, followed by singing led by Charlie Lapinski and a presentation by Amminadab Munyaneza at 1:30 p.m. Easton Day will take place at the Easton Friends' South Meeting House, 227 Meeting House Road (off State Route 40 about six miles north of Schaghticoke), in Easton, NY.

Those wanting more information may call 518-677-8934.