By: Liibaan Yusuf

The Rwandan genocide was one of the worst cases of ethnic cleansing in the late 20th century after the Holocaust. It began after Hutus, one of the three major ethnic groups in Rwanda, began rallying nationalist and radical ideas, which spread extremely quickly. Almost 1 million people died in the approximately three month span of pillaging, murder, and hatred for each other from May through June of 1994.

The Rwandan genocide was caused by key events in the years before. In 1994, Tutsi refugees in Uganda came together to start the RPF (Rwandan Patriotic Front). Through Uganda, they had infiltrated northern Rwanda and came on the plans of taking over the country. That incited the Rwandan civil war and abruptly ended when neither the RPF nor the Rwandan government gaining any advantage. As a result of the civil war, the former President, Habyarimana, brought forth the Arusha Accord to be signed by the Rwandan Government alongside he RPF in August of 1993.

Not even a year later, in early April of 1994, Habyarimana was assassinated. No one knows who did it, but historians say evidence leads them to believe that the perpetrators were of the Tutsi tribe. The death of the president lead to a power struggle between the Hutus, Tutsi, and Twa. Each group had reason to believe they were deserving of the position. The Hutus argued that since Habyarimana was a Hutu, it would only be right for a Hutu to be president and would be outlandish to hand over power to the Tutsi, who tried to overthrow the government just earlier that year. The Tutsi and Twa used exactly that as their counter argument though. Tutsi and Twa, both believed they should be given a chance at power.

Though just as early as the day after Habyarimana’s assassination, the genocide began. High power Hutus went after powerful and influential Tutsi’s first. Once the other Hutus heard of this, it morphed into an ethno-nationalist issue and Hutus began roaming the streets, killing anybody who was not a fellow Hutu.

The Tutsis hid in churches and schools believing that they would be spared, but they were massacred wherever they were found. Some of the perpetrators preferred machetes to rifles, they hacked away at hundreds of bodies. With murder came rape; Hutus sexually assaulted women and children with an estimated count of 500,000 women raped and some accounts of necrophilia.

All the while, when radical Hutu’s went after innocent Tutsis, the RPF saw the situation as a breach of the Arusha Accords and they resumed the brief civil war again, on grounds of fighting in defense. The RPF quickly took over the capital and gained tremendous ground and power with no central government to fight back. This incited violence and caused the innocent Tutsis to run towards Zaire, modern day DRC, in fear of the roaming Hutus killing anyone in sight.

Though the actual genocide ended in an estimated 100 days, the RPF formed into an actual government and in 1996 began an attack into neighboring Zaire, where thousands of Hutu refugees and war criminals ran to after the RPF took power in Rwanda. The Rwandan attack on Zaire began the First Congo War resulting in the deaths of 200 thousand people, combatants, and others.

Today, according to the Rwandan Constitution it claims that 1 million people died in the Rwandan Genocide and the government has put in many noteworthy laws and precautions to stop any similar uprisings and ethno-nationalist ideals are classified as criminal activity and can result in legal action. There are 2 holidays dedicated to the remembrance of those who died.

By: Grace Blumer-Lamotte

Presidents have been issuing yearly proclamations for certain months ever since 1995. Women’s History Month is in March of every year. 

According to the official Women’s History Month website, “Celebration of contributions women have made to the United States and recognize the specific achievements women have made over the course of American history in a variety of fields.” 

Some of the well-known women that made contributions towards Women’s History Month include: Rosa Parks, Susan B. Anthony, Abigail Adams, and Sojourner Truth. 

Rosa Parks deserves a major role in women’s history because she helped initiate the Civil Rights Movement. According to History.com, “She refused to give up her seat to a white man on a Montgomery, Alabama bus in 1955.” She was one of the first woman, of African American descent, that stood up against racism on public transport. 

Susan B. Anthony is another woman that deserves considerable recognition. According to History.com, “Anthony was a pioneer in the Women’s Suffrage Movement in the United States and president of the National American Woman Suffrage Association.”

Abigail Adams is yet another woman that also deserves better recognition. I personally have never heard her name. I also asked a couple of other students and they didn’t know who she was either. According to History.com, “Adams was one of only two women to have been both wife and mother to two U.S. presidents (the other being Barbara Bush). This all happened starting in 1774. 

Sojourner Truth is one of the many women that have an amazing story also.  According to History.com, “Truth was an African American evangelist, abolitionist, women’s right activist and author who was born into slavery before escaping freedom in 1826.” 

I asked two freshman girls, one freshman guy, and one junior girl these questions: 

• Do you know what Women’s History Month is? 
• Do you know why we celebrate Women’s History Month?

One of the freshman girls answered, “I know of it.” She then answered, “I don’t know why we celebrate it but I feel like I might have a big idea of why.” She explained that there are important women in history.

The other freshman girl answered, “I know what Women’s History Month is.” She then proceeded to answer, “I really don’t know why we celebrate it.”

The freshman boy answered, “I have heard of Women’s History month but I don’t know anything about it.”

The junior girl answered, “Yes I know of Women’s History Month. I think it is a month to celebrate the women that did good things in history. Such as Rosa Parks and other women.”

Seeing as how most know about Women’s History month’s existence, but not its significance, it’s important to enlighten people as much as possible.