Biafrans remember Bruce Mayrock: The American student who set himself on fire over plight of Biafrans

Biafrans remember Bruce Mayrock: The American student who set himself on fire over plight of Biafrans

Bruce Mayrock was a Columbia University Student, 20 years of age from Old Westbury, New York. He burnt himself to death on the lawns of the United Nations building Headquarters in New York in 1969, to protest against the genocide being committed against Biafrans during the Nigeria-Biafra war.

Armed with just a big sign that read; “YOU MUST STOP GENOCIDE! PLEASE SAVE NINE MILLION BIAFRANS”, Mayrock set himself ablaze.He died about nine hours after he set himself on fire.

In a tribute to Mayrock, Henry Uche Iwuanyanwu wrote: "Mayrock born May 6, 1949  took his own life for my people whom he never met before on May 30, 1969.

"Currently, I’m trying to make a comprehensive research on Bruce Mayrock with his family members, friends and the United Nation, which might lead to a full documentary of this unknown Hero.

Already in contact with Helaine M. Larina who has already created a Grave memorial page for him on September 24, 2006 and also agreed with me that our people need to know about Bruce Mayrock story and an international rememberance day need to be officially created for him.

"It’s unfortunate that this Hero is not even known by the Eastern people of Nigeria whom this young man took his own life for at a very ripe age. There’s need to make a very intelligent documentary of Bruce Mayrock and also create out a special day for him to be remembered and honored for this scarifies.

"Among the International Newspapers that wrote comprehensively about Bruce Mayrock’s protest suicide for Biafra was - The Straits Times, 3 June 1969 edition.

"Hopefully, if the National Library Singapore assist to supplies document reproductions from the physical collections (books, journals, newspapers, microfilms) of the National Library Board of Singapore libraries on this subject on a stated procedures and principles, Bruce Mayrock heroic documentary will be half way to success.

"The CBS Evening News for Thursday, May 29, 1969 with Headline: Columbia / Immolation, also reported from their Studio saying 'Near United Nations building, Columbia University student Bruce Mayrock sets self afire to protest Biafran war and the Genocide being committed by the Nigeria side. Bruce Mayrock is currently hospitalized'.

"Already, I have identified CBS Evening News REPORTER who reported the incident as: Walter Cronkite.

Walter Cronkite gave his report to the Studio of CBS Evening News at 00:23:50 am to 00:24:20 am with time duration of 00:30 on Thursday, May 29, 1969.

"Hopefully, Vanderbilt Television News Archive USA shall assist for additional items on this research subject from other Television stations.

"Already identified Mount Ararat Cementery, Farmingdale, Suffolk county, New York as where Bruce Mayrock was later buried and his grave has also be identified.

"What do you know about Bruce Mayrock? Are you a journalist from any of the current International Televison? Please join me on this search and documentary for Bruce Mayrock the unknown hero of world genocide protest."