African Activist Archive

The update reports that San Francisco longshoremen refused to unload cargo from South Africa in November 1984, while members of Congress and civil rights, union, and clergy leaders, were arrested at the South African Embassy in Washington, D.C. Since then, the movement to end apartheid and halt Reagan's "constructive engagement" policy has expanded. Recently, the Oakland and San Francisco Port Commissions have condemned trade with South Africa and are now seeking ways to ban its cargo completely. These actions are due to a united labor attack led by Bay Area Free South Africa Movement (BAFSAM), Dick Groulx, Ala. Central Labor Council Exec. Dir., and Jimmy Herman, ILWU leader. In the wake of student demonstrations, University of California Regents are studying plans to divest of companies doing business in South Africa, and, last October, 62% of San Francisco's voters approved a divestiture ballot measure. In January, over 20 local clergy were arrested in front of the Pacific Maritime Building in Oakland for protesting PMA's injunction forcing striking longshoremen to unload South African cargo. Consumer' District in Berkeley and East Oakland has agreed to stop selling Krugerrands, the South Africa gold coin; the Rainbow Coalition, Eastbay, has distributed thousands of red ribbons, the national symbol against racism and apartheid in South Africa. A major demonstration will be held on March 8, International Women's Day, in front of the IBM building in downtown Oakland; the contact person is Franklin Alexander. The report mentions Black Africa's trade unions, AFL-CIO President Kirkland, the Interfaith Center of Corporate Responsibility (ICCR), divestiture resolutions, shareholders, Chevron, Texaco, Rep. Howard Berman, Sen. William Proxmire, Assemblywoman Maxine Waters, and anti-apartheid legislation. [Note: Ala. Central Labor Council is most likely the Alameda Central Labor Council.]

African Activist Archive

UPDATE ON THE ANTI-APARTHEID MOVEMENT IN THE BAY AREA AND ELSEWHERE

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