The mailing says the U.S. State Department has issued visas to the South African Springbok Rugby team for a September tour of the U.S., to include games in Chicago on September 19, in Albany, New York on September 22, and in New York City on September 26. This tour MUST be opposed because of its wider political implications; the Springboks are the national rugby team and, therefore, represent the apartheid state. Also, rugby is one of the most segregated sports in South Africa; the Springbok team scheduled for the tour includes four men from the South African Defense Force and two South African policemen among its 30 players. Opposition has been mounting steadily among concerned U.S. citizens,...
The mailing says the U.S. State Department has issued visas to the South African Springbok Rugby team for a September tour of the U.S., to include games in Chicago on September 19, in Albany, New York on September 22, and in New York City on September 26. This tour MUST be opposed because of its wider political implications; the Springboks are the national rugby team and, therefore, represent the apartheid state. Also, rugby is one of the most segregated sports in South Africa; the Springbok team scheduled for the tour includes four men from the South African Defense Force and two South African policemen among its 30 players. Opposition has been mounting steadily among concerned U.S. citizens, spurred by the demonstrations in New Zealand in which over 75,000 people have participated, which have succeeded in stopping some of the games. A major coalition of U.S. civil rights, religious, political, and sports groups have formed Stop the Apartheid Rugby Tour (SART). The mailing asks people to write letters calling for the tour to be canceled to Richard Moneymaker, President of the American Rugby Football Union, and William Haffner of the Eastern Rugby Football Union. The mailing asks people to continue to pressure the Administration to cancel the Springbok's visas by writing to President Ronald Reagan and Secretary of State Alexander Haig. The mailing also asks people to press the cities of Chicago, Albany, and New York to deny the use of municipal facilities to the South Africans. Write to Mayor Jane Byrne, Chicago City Council; Mayor Erasmus Corning, Albany City Council; Mayor Ed Koch. City Hall; Mr. James Giblin, Albany City Council; and Ms. Carol Bellamy, President, New York City Council. The mailing discusses Chester Crocker, the Reagan Administration, the United Nations Special Committee Against Apartheid, the Organization of African Unity (OAU), the U.S. Olympic Committee, William Simon, the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics, New York State Black and Puerto Rican Legislative Caucus, Governor Hugh Carey, the Congressional Black Caucus, and Governor James Thompson.
