A dozen higher education institutions like Harvard University, Catholic University of America, University of Central Arkansas, have expressed interest in hosting commemoration events alongside members of the Rwandan community in the US, according to the Embassy of Rwanda in the United States.
The embassy has launched the week-long commemoration of the 1994 Genocide against Tutsi, in Washington DC.
Different commemoration events are planned across many states in the US.
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The embassy called on the Rwandan community and friends of Rwanda to take a moment to honour victims and survivors of the horrific slaughter that left over one million innocent people dead.
The event at the embassy, which included lowering the Rwandan flag at half-mast, lighting the flame of hope, and paying tribute to the victims, kick-started more commemoration events planned across the US, including the main one at Capitol Hill on April 15.
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Ambassador Mathilde Mukantabana re-echoed President Paul Kagame’s message to all Rwandans and Africans in general of finding dignity in themselves and knowing well that "only we can give value to our lives.”
"Like our President said, our hearts are filled with grief and gratitude, in equal measure,” she said.
"But as we remember the dead, we also give thanks for what Rwanda has become.
"In the same spirit, let’s join hands in our respective communities during this time of remembrance as we honour victims, comfort survivors, and sustain our national unity that is at the core of Rwanda’s stability and progress,” she said.
Bernadette Denis, representing the Ibuka US chapter, expressed gratitude to RPF-Inkotanyi for stopping the Genocide.
She emphasised the unimaginable suffering, pain, and trauma endured by survivors but yet have gone ahead to muster the strength to reconstruct their lives, forgive perpetrators, transcend hatred and division to embrace peace and reconciliation.
Mukantabana called on all Rwandans and friends of Rwanda in the US to actively participate in these events planned within the 100 days of commemoration and to specifically challenge the genocide deniers that have found a trade in spreading hate narrative and distorting the truth about Rwanda’s history.