Amy Biehl
Encyclopedia
Amy Elizabeth Biehl 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. 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
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. In 1999, Biehl's parents were honored with the Aline and Norman Felton
Humanitarian Award.
In his speech accepting the Congressional Gold Medal on 23 September 1998, Nelson Mandela
said:
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.
Amy Biehl High School
in Albuquerque, New Mexico is named in her honor.
Stanford University
The Leland Stanford Junior University, commonly referred to as Stanford University or Stanford, is a private research university on an campus located near Palo Alto, California. It is situated in the northwestern Santa Clara Valley on the San Francisco Peninsula, approximately northwest of San...
and an Anti-Apartheid activist
Anti-Apartheid Movement
Anti-Apartheid Movement , originally known as the Boycott Movement, was a British organization that was at the center of the international movement opposing South Africa's system of apartheid and supporting South Africa's Blacks....
in South Africa
South Africa
The Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans...
. She studied at the University of the Western Cape
University of the Western Cape
The University of the Western Cape is a public university located in the Bellville suburb of Cape Town, South Africa. It was established in 1960 by the South African government as a university for Coloured people only...
in Cape Town
Cape Town
Cape Town is the second-most populous city in South Africa, and the provincial capital and primate city of the Western Cape. As the seat of the National Parliament, it is also the legislative capital of the country. It forms part of the City of Cape Town metropolitan municipality...
as a scholar in the Fulbright Program
Fulbright Program
The Fulbright Program, including the Fulbright-Hays Program, is a program of competitive, merit-based grants for international educational exchange for students, scholars, teachers, professionals, scientists and artists, founded by United States Senator J. William Fulbright in 1946. Under the...
.
When 26-year-old Biehl drove a friend home to the township of Guguletu
Guguletu
Gugulethu or Guguletu is a township 15 km from Cape Town, South Africa.Nowadays many developments take place and have taken place to develop the townships into suburbs where life can flourish. Mzoli's, S'khomas Butchery, and The Gugulethu Sports Complex are some of the better known hotspots in...
, outside Cape Town
Cape Town
Cape Town is the second-most populous city in South Africa, and the provincial capital and primate city of the Western Cape. As the seat of the National Parliament, it is also the legislative capital of the country. It forms part of the City of Cape Town metropolitan municipality...
, 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. 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
In 1994, Biehl's parents, Linda and Peter, founded the Amy Biehl Foundation Trust
Amy Biehl Foundation Trust
The Amy Biehl Foundation Trust is a not-for-profit organization based in Cape Town, set up to commemorate Amy Biehl, an American anti-apartheid activist who was killed during racial violence in South Africa in 1993....
to develop and empower youth in the townships, in order to discourage further violence. In 1999, Biehl's parents were honored with the Aline and Norman Felton
Norman Felton
Norman Felton is a British-born American television producer, best known for his involvement in shows such as The Man from U.N.C.L.E. and Dr. Kildare, both on NBC.-Background:...
Humanitarian Award.
In his speech accepting the Congressional Gold Medal on 23 September 1998, Nelson Mandela
Nelson Mandela
Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela served as President of South Africa from 1994 to 1999, and was the first South African president to be elected in a fully representative democratic election. Before his presidency, Mandela was an anti-apartheid activist, and the leader of Umkhonto we Sizwe, the armed wing...
said:
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
Donald Gips
Donald H. Gips, born in 1960, was the Divisional Vice President of Corporate Strategy and Development for Level 3 Communications. and Director of Mindspeed Technologies, Incorporated. He was also on the advisory board for President Barack Obama's presidential transition team.In the late 1990s Gips...
, and Biehl's mother, Linda Biehl, at the Cape Town site where she was killed.
Amy Biehl High School
Amy Biehl High School
Amy Biehl High School is a charter high school in Albuquerque, New Mexico. The school is now housed in the Old Post Office building in Downtown Albuquerque...
in Albuquerque, New Mexico is named in her honor.