The leaflet says The Architects' Resistance is an action group, a communications network, a research organization; we issue and mobilize behind position papers covering broad topics within the architectural profession -- registration, awarding of commissions, and specific instances of the misuse of our professional skills. The leaflet says on March 21, 1960, the government of South Africa opened fire on a peaceful demonstration in Sharpeville -- killing 67 people -- one act in an endless series of atrocities committed against the black people of South Africa. The leaflet says today March 21, 1969, Skidmore, Owings and Merrill, the most prestigious architectural firm in the United States is...
The leaflet says The Architects' Resistance is an action group, a communications network, a research organization; we issue and mobilize behind position papers covering broad topics within the architectural profession -- registration, awarding of commissions, and specific instances of the misuse of our professional skills. The leaflet says on March 21, 1960, the government of South Africa opened fire on a peaceful demonstration in Sharpeville -- killing 67 people -- one act in an endless series of atrocities committed against the black people of South Africa. The leaflet says today March 21, 1969, Skidmore, Owings and Merrill, the most prestigious architectural firm in the United States is building the 50 million dollar, 51 story concrete building, Carlton Center, in Johannesburg, the heart of racist South Africa. The leaflet says this project clearly demonstrates SOM's alliance for profit with an impressive list of corporations whose huge investments in South Africa are responsible for maintaining the oppressive apartheid system; this alliance has also brought over 20 million-dollar commissions to SOM's drawing boards; The Architects' Resistance believes that the architectural profession has a responsibility greater than the pursuit of profit. The leaflet says as architects, architecture students, planners and draftsmen, we believe that architecture, like other professions, is not an end in itself, but part of a political process, a process that should grant all people the right to control their own lives and be governed by human values - - not material ones. The leaflet says ON MARCH 21, AT NOON, WE WILL DEMONSTRATE IN FRONT OF SOM'S OFFICE AT 400 PARK AVENUE TO PUBLICIZE OUR DEMAND THAT SKIDMORE, OWINGS AND MERRILL AND PAUL WEIDLINGER ASSOC. (ENGINEERS) IMMEDIATELY DISSOCIATE THEMSELVES FROM THE CARLTON PROJECT AND REMIT ALL PROFITS ACCRUED THERE TO BLACK ORGANIZATIONS IN SOUTH AFRICA; WE ALSO DEMAND THAT THE AMERICAN INSTITUTE OF ARCHITECTS PUBLICLY CENSOR SOM AND ANY OTHER FIRMS BUILDING IN SOUTH AFRICA AND THAT THEY IMMEDIATELY DROP THESE FIRMS FROM MEMBERSHIP IF THEY REFUSE TO HALT THEIR OPERATIONS IN SOUTH AFRICA; WE MUST MAKE OURSELVES HEARD -- JOIN US.
