Capital District CoalitionAgainst Apartheid

and RacismIn the fall of 1981, the South African Springbok rugby

team came to Albany . Prior to their arrival, a coalitionof many groups and individuals came together to protest

their appearance in what was a violation of the international cultural/sports boycott called by the United Nations against apartheid SouthAfrica . The Coalition continues and has been active in the work againstracism and apartheid since that time.

A CHRONOLOGY OF MAJOR COALITION EVENTS - 1981 TO THE PRESENT

1981 -September 22 - Major demonstration against the Springbok rugbyteam in Albany

-Vera Michelson arrested along with out of town anti-apartheidactivists John Spearman, Mike Young and Aaron Estes

-Gil Scott Heron gives benefit concerts in Albany to raisemoney for defense funds

December 21 - Charges dropped against Michelson and Estes1982 -County court jury acquitted John Spearman and John Young of

felony weapons charge-Protest at Watervliet Arsenal where weapons were being manu-

factured for sale to South Africa in violation of UnitedNations ' and United States ' embargoes

-Coalition participated in anti-klan demonstrations in SouthernVermont

•Anti-klan program held in Albany featuring Renee DuBois• First cultural boycott demonstration - against Chick Corea at

Troy Music Hall-Fundraiser at Gibbey ' s- "One Year Later" anniversary program held at Mt . Calvary

Baptist Church-Coalition organized buses to participate in anti-klan demon-

stration in Washington, D .C.-Lawsuit filed on behalf of the Coalition, Michelson and Estes

against the Albany City Police and the F,B .I . challengingthe raid and arrests

)83 -Picket line at Caldors protesting the sale of South Africanbaby bonnets

-Fundraiser - showing of movie "The Chant of Jimmie Blacksmith"-Numerous cultural boycott demonstrations including a major walk-

out at the Saratoga Kool Jazz Festival against Ray . Charles-Co-sponsored New Paltz Conference on New York State divestment

-Testimony given at United Nations to the Special PoliticalCommittee of the General Assembly

-Co-sponsored with the NAACP a conference - "Racism: A Nation-al Policy"

-Fundraiser at Otis '-Coalition lawyers defeat motion to dismiss lawsuit

1984 -Jesse Davis murdered - Coalition joined protest and joined indemands for an Albany Police Review Board

-David Ndaba of the African National Congress in Albany speak-ing at a public forum at Wilborn Temple

-Numerous cultural boycott events . Statement obtained by theCoalition and Unity in Action from the Temptations vowingthat they will not return to South Africa until apartheidis ended

-Testimony given to the Banking Committee of the New York StateAssembly on the need for divestment

-Testimony given at the United Nations to the Special PoliticalConmitte of the General Assembly

-Antis Lee of the Friends in Albany speaking at Mt . PleasantBaptist Church

•Coaliton participated in a conference on nuclear arms entitled"Reducing the Risk" sponsored by the Capital District PeacePower Network

1985 -Murphy Morobe, leading spokesperson of the United DemocraticFront, in Albany to speak - at a clergy breakfast, labor re-ception and an open forum at Wilborn Temple

•SUNY students force SUNY divestment-Picket line against Ray Charles at the Palace Theater in Albany-Major walkback against Chick Corea at the Kool Jazz Festival in

Saratoga . Statement by Corea that he will not return to SouthAfrica until there is an end to apartheid obtained by theCoalition

-Film on Malcolm X co-sponsored with the Malcolm X Study Network•Neo Mnumzana, chief representative of the ANC Observor Mission

to the United Nations, and hinyangerwa Asheekee of SWAPO toAlbany to speak at Mt . Pleasant Baptist Church

-Free South Africa demonstration in Albany - 10 community leadersarrested at the protest which was co-sponsored by the NAACP

1986 -January conference in Albany to establish a network of anti-apartheid forces to work in the N . Y . State divestment campaignPicket line against New Regan, state comptroller, opposed todivestment, in front of the Alfred E . Smith building

-State-wide lobby day for divestment and demonstration in front ofthe Legislative Office Building in Albany

Overnight shantytown set up on Capitol grounds to demand N .Y.state divestment

-Student Coalition Against Apartheid and Racism established at SUNYA

-Movie on Nelson and Minnie Mandela co-sponsored with Unity inAction at the Metropolitan New Testament Baptist Church

-Sharpeville commemoration entitled "From Sharpeville, SouthAfrica to Albany, U .S .A . held at Mt . Calvary Baptist Church

-Community Police Relations Board established as a result of de-mands made in the Jesse Davis case . Coalition holds seat onthis board

-Coalition participated, and will continue to do so, in theNiebuhr Institute at Siena College

-Coalition sponored bus trip to Philadelphia Demonstration AgainstRacism

-Coalition sponsored buses to June 14 Anti-Apartheid March in NewYork City

-Two different federal court judges ruled that Coalition lawyerswould not be given information about the identity and activitiesof a secret police informant who provided the F .B .I . with inform-ation during the 1981 anti-apartheid organizing . Federal rulesprevent an appeal of this ruling prior to the trial

• "Victory is Certain" program to commemorate the fifth anniversaryof the Coalition

yet to come . . .Fall of 1986The Coalition, as a co-sponsor of the following events, urges yourattendance:-September 26 at Page Hall - Maishe Maponya, a South African poet,

will read from his works and hold a question and answer period.This evening is being sponsored by the Writer ' s Institute ofSUNY

-October 11 - The Pledge of Resistance - organized demonstrationagainst U .S . government policy in Nicaragua, South Africa andNamibia . Make 1 inks , boycott South Africa not Nicaragua.Protest policy positions of N .Y . Sen . D ' Amato

This Fall also is the time when we will intensify our demands forState divestment . Join with anti-apartheid activists from aroundthe state to demand that New York State divest all South Africanand Namibian related investments and to convice the Legislature toend all state buying of goods or services from any company doingbusiness in South Africa or Namibia

onto nwork of the Coalition . ..•a speaker s bureau which is available to speak at churches, forums,

schools and community events, and on t .v . and radio shows•a monthly newsletter-tabling at community events and affairsregular monthl . meetin:s

for more information, write : Box 3002, Pine Hills StationAlbany, New Y rk 12203

or call : (518) 436-0562

The Steering Committee

Vera Michelson (Co-Chairperson)Merton Simpson (Co-Chairperson)Fred KakumbaEileen KawolaMark MishlerSipho SeepeAnita Thayer

Roli VarmaJoe Walker (honorary member)Japhet ZwanaJacqui Ambrosini (student representative)

The Member Groups

NAACPCapital District Association of Black Social Workers

Capital District Labor Religion CoalitionStudent Coalition Against Apartheid and Racism, SUNYAStudent Association of the State UniversityStudent Assocation of SUNY, AlbanyNational Lawyers GuildUniversal BeingMalcolm X Study NetworkBlacks in GovernmentAlbany County Central Federation of LaborMount Calvary Baptist ChurchDelta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc.Democratic Socialists of AmericaNYPIRGSocialist Workers PartyBlack Woman ' s AssociationCentral America Solidarity Alliance (CASA)Urban LeagueA . Philip Randolph InstituteY .W .C .A .

FREE SOUTH AFRICA - FREE NAMIBIA

VICTORY TO THE A .N .C . - VICTORY TO SWAPO

ibia

AFRICA

A Journal of Quotes fromCommunit Leaders~P~~r ~ ..._ .

compiled by Japhet M . Zwanaand Eileen C, Kawola

for the

Fifth Anniversar of the S rin bok Ru bDemonstration in

any an t e ormation--

-

-

--_of the Capital District Coalition Against..-

~pa r the id and Rac_i sm

'The historic demonstration ' s significance isthat is opened many people ' s eyes about the c on-t inued s trugg 1 e in South Africa . Indeed , v is -tory is certain - I wish it would come sooner . "

Pat Trowers

"ihe South African regime received the clearmessage that the American people were not pre-pared to entertain the adventures of the so-called cultural ambassadors whose real object-ive was to be representatives of apartheid and.

~~rac~srn .

Anita Thayer

"The demonstration provided the opportunity forindividuals to take a firm stand on the issueof apartheid in South Africa . I t generated aspirit of good feeling among those involvedtowards the struggling masses in South Africaand reinforced the desire for peace and goodwill towards all humankind throughout theworld . "

Donna Perry

"The Springbok rugby demonstration in the Capi-~al District gave birth to one o f the majoranti-apartheid centers in this country . Thework of this community has been recognized in-ternational ly . "

Merton Simpson

"The event demonstrated that it was possibleto develop a viable and ongoing multi-nationalpolitical base in the city of Albany in opposi-tion to the apartheid regime in South Africaand its apologists here in the United States . "

Bill Ritchie

" The formation of the Capital District CoalitionAgainst Apartheid and Racism exerted pressureupon the American government to take some ac-tion, however limited and weak . The activitiesof the Coalition brought awareness among theSouth African people that Americans in the Cap-ital District area sttod ready to strike a blow.,against apartheid . "

Margaret Kerwin

"The demonstration revealed the fact that thepeople of the Capital District area were con-cerned about international politics . They un-derstood and reaffirmed the age old conceptthat the struggle is the same in the UnitedStates, in Albany, as in South Africa, Thedemonstration helped to bring the South Afri-can issue closer to the general public . "

Odell Winfield

"The demonstration was the catalyst for thetimely formation of the Capital District Coal-ition Against Apartheid and Racism and theAmerican South African People ' s FriendshipAssociation, Organizational activities includ-ed informational and educational series through-out the area. The divestment movement was giventremendous impetus and inspiration during andafter the demonstration . "

Henry Elonge

"The demonstration provided a forum from whichto send a message of displeasure with the Sout'~African regime ' s ambassadors of oppression . 1~was a dramatic articulation to call attentionof the world to the daily public atrocities com-mitted by the South African perpetrators ofapartheid . The demonstration was not directed~,_.--

as such, rather it providedaddress the concern . The acattention getter for the loc~about the situation within S~United States Congress and A~the pressure to address theand South Africa business coy

Nathan.

" Few communities were aware ogoing ons within South Afric;tion changed all that . It i~among grassroots organizationnu~er of educational and inin ,1e area . It signified aparticipants in that it mirr~resistance capital of the Un:

Rev . Rc

"The demonstration was worth ~paration . It brought into s~ors of the system of a~ar_the:person . It was an educationState of New York and the na1that the demonstration foreslthat were in place to furtherapartheid in South Africa intrict or elsewhere in the nat

Frank {

"The demonstration had a tremEthe people . It brought peop~together against a common enEand its magnitude was a firstcity was put on the world madlight, Progressive forces pzofficial intransigence and trarea has never been the same

Nebrask

ted that it was possibleand ongoing multi-national

Ze city of Albany in opposi-id regime in South AfricaZere in the United States . "

Bill Ritchie

a Capital District CoalitionZd Racism exerted pressure~vernment to take some ac-~d and weak . The activitiesaught awareness among the

that Americans in the Cap-~ttod ready to strike a blow

Margaret Kerwin

~vealed the fact that theit District area were con-~tional politics . They un-~med the age old concept

the same in the United~s in South Africa . Thel to bring the South Af ri-the general public . "

Odell Winfield

.s the catalyst for thethe Capital District Coal-,eid and Racism and thean People ' s Friendshipnational activities includ-educational series through-

ivestment movement was givennd inspiration during andion . "

Henry Elonge

ovided a forum from whichdispleasure with the Sout

assadors of oppression . 1`~-~ulation to call attentiondaily public atrocities com-African perpetrators ofnstration was not directed

as such, rather it provided the opportunity toaddress the concern . The activity acted as anattention getter for the local and nation publicabout the situation within Southern Africa . TheUnited States Congress and Administration feltthe pressure to address the issue raised by U .S.and South Africa business connections . "

Nathanial Quattlebaum

"Few communities were aware of or cared about thegoing ons within South Africa . The demonstra-tion changed all that . It inspired involvementamong grassroots organizations . It spawned anumber of educational and information programsin, ,le area . It signified a victory for theparticipants in that it mirrored Albany as theresistance capital of the United States . "

Rev . Robert Dixon

"The demonstration was worth the efforts and pre-paration . It brought into sharp focus the horr-ors of the system of apartheid to the averageperson . It was an educational exercise for theState of New York and the nation . It is likelythat the demonstration forestalled more plansthat were in place to further the cause ofapartheid in South Africa in the Capital Dis-trict or elsewhere in the nation, "

Frank G . Pogue

"The demonstration had a tremendous impact onthe people . It brought people of both racestogether against a common enemy . The eventand its magnitude was a first for Albany . Thecity was put on the world map in a positivelight . Progressive forces prevailed overofficial intransigence and the Capital Districtarea has never been the same since then . "

Nebraska Brace

(over?

" The Coalition Against Apartheid and Racism hassucceeded to lubricate the conscience and con-cern of local residents about the cause of theliberation struggle in Southern Africa . Ithas continued to supply first hand informationabout significant development in South Africaotherwise not made readily available by massmedia and other carefully crafted policy pro-nouncements . It has become a vehicle for act-ive involvement and participation by peoplewith positive contributions to the welfare ofhumankind and peace . "

Clarence Parker

Brian O ' Shaughnessy

" The significance of the commemoration can besummed up as follows:

Victory for the liberation forces in SouthAfrica and Namibia is inevitable . In spite ofthis hope, the forces that will effect this re-sult cannot relax at this point - pressureneeds to be maintained . The actions of theU .S . Congress and the Administration on sanc-tions do not go far enough . Dependence onSouth Africa or Westerngoodwill and connivanceshould be stopped . This event should providefuel for the next mile ' s race in the CapitalDistrict . "

Japhet M . Zwana

A Jo

compilan

Fifth Anniversary of tDemonstration in Albany

, of the Capital DistrictApartheid and

"The historic demonstrationthat is opened many peopletinued struggle in South Atory is certain - I wish j

"The South African regime rmessage that the Americanpared to entertain the advcalled cultural ambassadorive was to be representati, ►racism.

"The demonstration providedindividuals to take a firmof apartheid in South Afrispirit of good feeling amotowards the struggling masand reinforced the desirewill towards all humankindworld . "

" The Springbok rugby demonsc_al District gave birth toanti-apartheid centers inwork of this community hasternationally . "

"The demonstration forced city authorities tomake hard decisions . The event was a very im-portant message of protest against an injusticethat was long overdue . It raised the level ofawareness about the variety of issues implicitin apartheid . The participants demonstrated amature and high level of self respect, restraintand discipline in spite of rumors and expectat-tions to the contrary . The magnitude and toneof the event were a clear evidence of organiz-ational genius . "