The Amy Biehl Story

August 25---a day that will be remembered for many people both in South Africa and America. 17 years ago something happened that changed the life of at least 7 people, but lead to 1000s of lives changed because of an incredible story of forgiveness. Let me tell you the story of how the Amy Biehl Foundation came to be…

Amy Biehl, an idealistic Stanford graduate student, and an anti-apartheid activist, was just days from returning home to the United States. She was completing a 10-month exchange program at the University of Western Cape Community Law Center as part of the Fulbright program. She passionately opposed the Apartheid government, and devoted much of her efforts during her stay to the upcoming South African election, the nation's first all-race election scheduled in April of 1994. She truly believed that Africa was "the continent of the future" and was committed to voter registration programs for blacks and women to ensure the end of apartheid power.

Amy Biehl was driving 3 blacks colleagues to their home in the Gugulethu Township in Cape Town, when a group of youths representing the Pan Africanist Congress militant group began to attack their vehicle. The mob of youths, fresh from a raucous political meeting, began pelting the vehicle with stones, forcing it to stop. Radical chants of "one settler, one bullet!", rang out as they surrounded the vehicle, forcing Amy out on to the street where they continued to attack. She was then driven to the nearest police station, where she later died. Amy Biehl was just 26 years old.

The irony of the tragedy is that Amy was killed by the very people she was trying to help. During the attack, her black friends continuously pleaded that she was a "comrade", a friend of South Africa. It was to no avail. Four men were eventually arrested and charged with the murder, and sentenced to 18 years in prison. Shortly thereafter, however, the new African National Congress (ANC) government formed the Truth and Reconciliation Commission, a court-like body, responsible for reviewing requests for amnesty to those guilty of committing politically motivated crimes. The convicted murderers in the Amy Biehl case applied for amnesty, testifying that at the time of the murder "We were in very high spirits, and the White people were oppressive; we had no mercy on the White people. A White person was a White person to our eyes." They each further testified; "What I believed is if you kill a white person, it is how we are going to get the land returned from the white people".

Determined to honour Amy's belief in the truth and reconciliation process, and her love for South Africa, Amy's parents Linda and Peter Biehl, chose to attend and participate in the hearings, supporting the request for amnesty. In 1998, four years after the demise of the apartheid era, the four convicted murderers were pardoned, and released from prison. The Biehls ultimately supported the verdict, shaking the hands of the convicted murderers upon their release. Peter Biehl stated in conclusion to the hearings:

"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".

The Biehls have since created the Amy Biehl foundation which is where I work now. The foundation's mission statement is "to weave a barrier against violence" and "to prevent youth violence through a holistic approach to community development in socio-economically disadvantaged communities in and around Cape Town and I get to be a part of this story!!!

Yesterday marked the 17^th anniversary of her death and the entire office went to a memorial service and dedication of a new monument (see link to news story below). What is amazing through all of this is that 2 of the 4 convicted murderers actually work for the organization now. Easy and Ntobeko are incredible men who’s lives have been changed by an incredible act of forgiveness—they have been given new life and a chance to have a family and freedom. Everyday when I go to work, I get a giant hug from Easy and a wonderful welcome from Ntobeko. Their desks are just opposite mine…I walk by them, I interact, I laugh, I throw paper airplanes at the very people who were the villains 17 years ago. Who do you need to forgive today? Who do you need to show grace and love to? I can’t even begin to imagine what Peter and Linda Biehl have gone through to be where they are today; but because of their actions, 1000s of childrens lives have been changed.

http://www.news24.com/SouthAfrica/News/Memorial-to-Amy-Biehl-unveiled-20100825