Rwandans living in the American state of Utah held their commemoration of the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi, lat Saturday.This was part of the continuous 18th commemoration of the Genocide, activities that began on April 7.Eric Nkurunziza, the coordinator of event, told The New Times that survivors and friends of Rwanda gathered in the city of Salt Lake City to remember.Nkurunziza said in a statement that about 150 people attended the event in which testimonies on the 1994 atrocities were given while famous scholars presented papers.“Dr Zachary Kaufman gave a presentation about the role of the media, in general, before the Genocide and during the Genocide, in stirring the flames of hatred and prompting the killing of the Tutsi,” reads part of the statement.The only American who chose to remain in Rwanda as the 1994 Genocide unfolded, Carl Wilkens, now an acclaimed human rights activist, delivered a keynote speech.In 1994, Wilkens risked his life to deliver food, water, and money to people who were hiding from the then rampant Interahamwe gangs.“He spoke about the evils of the Genocide and explained the things he saw with his own eyes. He said that it is so painful to see that the US, his own country, and the UN, resolved to remove peacekeepers when the Genocide started,” reads the statement.
