Iyad Burnat, born in 1973 in Bil`in, Palestine, heads the Bil’in Popular Committee. Since 2005, citizens of Bil’in, joined by Israeli and international peace activists, have held weekly non-violent demonstrations against the Israeli separation wall and the encroachment of illegal settlements. The protesters have maintained a commitment to non-violent resistance in the face of armed  military opposition. The  demonstrations are the subject of the 2012 Oscar-nominated documentary film 5  Broken Cameras, which was made by Iyad’s brother, Emad Burnat. Burnat discusses strategies for non-violent popular resistance with social justice activist Trina Jackson. How has he brought potential adversaries to share his goal of  peace and prosperity for all people?

Co-sponsored by Don and Jeannette McInnes and by Unitarian Universalists for Justice in the Middle East – Massachusetts Chapter; the Middle East Education Group of First Parish (UU) in Cambridge; Alliance for a Secular and Democratic South Asia; Boston Coalition for Palestinian Rights; Jewish Voice for Peace – Boston; Jewish Women for Justice in Israel- Palestine; Palestinian House of New England; and United for Justice With Peace.