Around the world, colonialism destroys lives, shatters communities, and obliterates the human rights of indigenous peoples through subjugation and enslavement, land theft, the plunder of natural resources, and the erasure of native culture and language. On February 10th, UMKR and MFSA will bring together four speakers representing Turtle Island, the Philippines, Africa, and Palestine to address the past destruction and very present dangers of colonialism as it impacts their peoples.

How can we meaningfully reject the sin of settler colonialism and support these indigenous peoples' liberation struggles?

Turtle Island: Native Americans have been subjected to centuries of ethnic cleansing and genocide and their struggle against the loss of land and heritage continues today throughout the North American continent.

Philippines: In a country steeped in the legacy of Spanish, American, and Japanese colonialism, indigenous Filipinos are courageously endeavoring to protect their land, their communities, and their human rights.

Africa: Millions of Africans were enslaved by colonialists who also conquered their homelands and stripped their natural resources; many of the same Western powers continue their interference and exploitation today.

Palestine: Settler colonialists have seized more and more of historic Palestine since the early 20th century; today they control the lives of millions of Palestinians with a brutal apartheid military regime while making millions of others into second-class citizens.

Our speakers are:
Rev. Alvin Deer - Retired Clergy in Oklahoma Indian Missionary Conference, UMC
Rev. Lloyd T. Nyarota – Clergy in the Zimbabwe East Conference, UMC
Rev. Armando Arellano - Filipino Clergy in the East Ohio Conference, UMC
Ata Manasra - Director of the Wadi Foquin-Narjes Community Development Project, former Mayor of Wadi Foquin, West Bank, Palestine
Moderator - Michelle Dromgold-Sermen, former UMKR Intern, PhD candidate in sociology, University of North Carolina