From Palestine to Petaluma: Workshop and Talk on Nonviolent Resistance

Palestinian nonviolence activist, Iyad Burnat, is coming to Petaluma. 

Iyad will tell the stories of Bil’in and life in occupied Palestine, and talk about strategies for nonviolent popular resistance with a goal of peace and prosperity for all people. His presentation will be accompanied by photos and videos.

Iyad Burnat is head of the Bil’in Popular Committee and a leader in the village’s non-violent popular resistance movement.

Since 2005 citizens of Bil’in have held weekly demonstrations against the building of the Israeli separation wall through the community’s agricultural lands, and the steady encroachment of illegal settlements. The demonstrators are joined by Israeli and international peace activists, and have maintained a commitment to non-violent methods of resistance in spite of armed, military opposition that has resulted in many injuries and some deaths.

These demonstrations are the subject of the recent award-winning documentary film 5 Broken Cameras, which was made by Iyad’s brother, Emad Burnat. Iyad was born in Bil'in in Sepetember of 1973. He is married and has four children. He became involved in popular resistance as a teenager, and was arrested by the Israeli military for the first time at age 17. He was accused of throwing stones, and imprisoned for two years. Since then he has been arrested and imprisoned by the Israeli military several times. 

The Metta Center will host a free 'introduction to nonviolence' workshop at 5:30 -6:30 pm before Iyad's talk. Let's hear your stories! All are welcome!