African Activist Archive

Report about demonstration to inaugurate the New York/CRV campaign against Gulf Oil on February 4, ninth anniversary of the armed struggle of the MPLA (Popular Movement for the Liberation of Angola) against the colonial regime in Angola. Gulf payments to the Portuguese Government in 1969 were almost half Portugal's military budget in Angola. Gulf discovered oil offshore of the Cabinda enclave in 1966 and expects it to yield 150,000 barrels per day this year. The February 4 action made two major points: 1) We support revolutionary movements that are liberating people from colonial and imperialist domination, and we attack Gulf as instrumental in the repression of the liberation movement in Angola; and 2) We want to expose Gulf as a typical U.S. multinational corporation through its involvement in the extracting of polluting oil and exploiting the world's people. The February 4 demonstration leafleted at the Casa de Portugal (a tourist -information office of the Portuguese government) on Fifth Avenue and then went to the Sperry Rand Building where Gulf occupies the 34th-36th floors. There we "mingled" with Gulf employees and placed leaflets under closed doors and on desks. The report lists Gulf Oil campaign plans for March - June 1970. They include: CRV General Meeting with author Michael Tanzer and others on the U.S. oil industry (esp. Gulf) (mid-March). Tenth anniversary of the Sharpeville Massacre in South Africa (Gulf Oil has major concessions in South and South West Africa (Namibia) (March 21). Another action at the Sixth Ave. offices, more related to activities at those offices and to the Mellons (April). Daily vigils/leafleting leading to a confrontation about April 27 probably at Gulf Offices (April 28 is the annual stockholders' meeting o Gulf in Pittsburgh). Fund raising - public event related to liberation movements, esp. FRELIMO, PAIGC (May). Pan African Solidarity Week actions - birthday of Malcolm X (May 19), through the anniversary of the founding of the Organization of African Unity (May 25). Anniversary of the Portuguese massacre in Mueda, Mozambique (June 16).

African Activist Archive

FEBRUARY 4 - DEMONSTRATION AGAINST GULF AND PORTUGUESE COLONIALISM

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