Mailing with a cover letter and a press release about a meeting on June 21of religious' leaders with Nelson Mandela, and an interfaith service that followed. Leaders who participated in the meeting and other recipients are urged to send the press release to their in local, regional, and national religious and other appropriate media. The press release says Mandela, deputy president of the African National Congress, met with about 130 U.S. religious leaders and then addressed 3,500 people in a festive interfaith service at The Riverside Church. Both events were sponsored by the Religious Committee of the Nelson Mandela New York Anti-Apartheid Welcome Committee, which coordinated Mandela's...
Mailing with a cover letter and a press release about a meeting on June 21of religious' leaders with Nelson Mandela, and an interfaith service that followed. Leaders who participated in the meeting and other recipients are urged to send the press release to their in local, regional, and national religious and other appropriate media. The press release says Mandela, deputy president of the African National Congress, met with about 130 U.S. religious leaders and then addressed 3,500 people in a festive interfaith service at The Riverside Church. Both events were sponsored by the Religious Committee of the Nelson Mandela New York Anti-Apartheid Welcome Committee, which coordinated Mandela's schedule in New York City. The press release says the National Council of Churches, through its Africa Office, hosted Mandela's meeting with a broad cross-section of the U.S. religious community, including Protestant, Roman Catholic, Orthodox and Evangelical Christian, and Jewish, Muslim and Native American religious leaders. The press release says Mandela noted that Dr. John Langalibalele Dube, the ANC ' s first president, was a well-known religious leader and that Christian, Muslim and other religious leaders have always played leading roles in the organization. The press release says Mandela challenged the U.S. religious community to continue its support for sanctions against the South African apartheid regime. The press release says the congregation stood for the singing of "Nkosi Sikelel' i Afrika," the African national anthem, then many spilled into the aisles to dance the celebratory toyi-toyi in Mandela's honor. The mailing discusses Olatunji and his African Drummer, Rev. Jesse Jackson, New York City Mayor David Dinkins, Dr. Gardener C. Taylor of Concord Baptist Church, Rick Reinhard, the African National Congress (ANC), The Interchurch Center, and the Mandela Freedom Fund.
