Contents: Toward a New South Africa: An Interfaith Service • Southern Africa Building Blocks • South Africa Speakers • Letters and Resolutions Needed on Sanctions • Calendar • The memorandum is an invitation to join Rhode Island's religious community for "TOWARD A NEW SOUTH AFRICA," on June 12, 1988, at the Episcopal Cathedral of St. John. People of different religious traditions will join together to express concern about the evils of apartheid and the human suffering it has caused. The service will also be an opportunity for people of faith to commit to take action on behalf of the victims of apartheid. The liturgy will include prayers, readings, music, and, we hope, a special...
Contents: Toward a New South Africa: An Interfaith Service • Southern Africa Building Blocks • South Africa Speakers • Letters and Resolutions Needed on Sanctions • Calendar • The memorandum is an invitation to join Rhode Island's religious community for "TOWARD A NEW SOUTH AFRICA," on June 12, 1988, at the Episcopal Cathedral of St. John. People of different religious traditions will join together to express concern about the evils of apartheid and the human suffering it has caused. The service will also be an opportunity for people of faith to commit to take action on behalf of the victims of apartheid. The liturgy will include prayers, readings, music, and, we hope, a special message from Archbishop Desmond Tutu. Sponsors of the service include: American Baptist Churches of Rhode Island; American Friends Service Committee; The Baha'is of Providence; Church in Society Committee of the Rhode Island Conference; United Church of Christ; Community Affairs Vicariate, Diocese of Providence; Community Relations Council Executives, Jewish Federation of Rhode Island; Providence Monthly Meeting of Friends; Rhode Island Divest, Rhode Island United Methodist Association; and Sisters of Mercy Peace and justice Office. Also, AFSC is collecting school supplies, sewing materials, clothing, and blankets for refugees in Angola and Mozambique and South Africans who have been forced into exile. This material aid drive continues through June 16, the 12th anniversary of the Soweto uprising. Five or six South Africa/Southern Africa activists will arrive in Rhode Island on June 11, for 3-4 days of speaking engagements and media work. The delegation will include Jerry Herman, national Southern Africa staff person for AFSC; Dorothy Thomas of the National Council of Churches; and Donald Rallis, a white South African. The other members of the group will likely include one or two Black South (or Southern) Africans. The denial of basic civil liberties to Black South Africans continues; the Minister of Law and Order outlawed 18 organizations. The Botha government refuses to end its occupation of Namibia, and continues to arrest, detain, and even torture. Since 1984, some 11,000 children have been detained. The memorandum mentions the Congress of South African Trade Unions (COSATU), Detainees' Parents Support Committee (DPSC), Soweto Civic Association, United Democratic Front (UDF), the Botha government, Joyce Katzberg-Grady, Rev. Allan Boesak, the World Alliance of Reformed Churches, Roman Catholic Cardinal Stephen Naidoo, riot police, the P.W. Botha government, crackdown on political activity, a rent boycott, military intervention, famine and disease caused by destabilization, UNICEF, U.S. corporations, destabilization, Senator Pell, Senator Chafee, and Senator Kerry.
