African Activist Archive

The mailing includes a cover letter signed by Imani Countess, Acting Director of the Washington Office on Africa; ACTION ALERT STOP MARYLAND LEGISLATURE FROM LIFTING SANCTIONS by Bread for the World; and States, Counties and Cities Which Have Anti-Apartheid Laws or Policies. The mailing says the world welcomes the results of the March 17 referendum and hopes it will be the last racially-based vote in South Africa. The mailing says many Members of Congress have praised de Klerk's reforms and the outcome of the referendum; however, in their enthusiastic support for de Klerk, some Members like Senate Africa Subcommittee Minority Leader Nancy Kassebaum (R-KS) and House Foreign Affairs Ranking Minority Member William Broomfield (R-MI) have called for lifting all remaining federal as well as state and local sanctions. The mailing says sanctions have been instrumental in pressuring the South African government to adopt its present course of negotiation. While progress has been made, the de Klerk government has not yet released all political prisoners nor has it stopped complicity by security forces in the continuing violence which has claimed approximately 300 lives since the referendum was called a month ago; furthermore, proposals by de Klerk for a new constitution include permanent white veto power. The mailing argues that the remaining sanctions must not be lifted before a transitional government based on the principle of one person, one vote is in place. The mailing asks people to lobby Senator Kassebaum, Representative Broomfield and their own Members of Congress to resist any attempt to preempt state or local sanctions against South Africa. The mailing asks people to contact their municipal officials to let them know that sanctions against South Africa must not be lifted. The mailing says contact the American Committee on Africa for more information if a battle is brewing in your area. The mailing says the enclosure ACTION ALERT STOP MARYLAND LEGISLATURE FROM LIFTING SANCTIONS says the Constitutional and Administrative Law Committee of the Maryland State Legislature is currently meeting in Annapolis and considering legislation which would lift Maryland sanctions against South Africa; although the majority of national U.S. sanctions have already been lifted prematurely by President Bush, it is essential that all remaining sanctions including state and local sanctions be maintained until an interim government is in place. The mailing discusses the ANC (African National Congress), Nelson Mandela, Leon Billings, Joanne Benson, Carolyn Howard, David Valderamma, Ann Perkins, Elijah Cummins, Clarence "Tiger" Davis, Sharon Pauling, F.W. de Klerk, church affiliation, the American Committee on Africa (ACOA), and Bill # 1110.

African Activist Archive

[Dear Friend, The world welcomes the results of the March 17 referendum and hopes that it will be the last vote based on race in South Africa.]

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