African Activist Archive

The four meetings ACAS during ASA were: Organizing/Recruiting, Oct. 24; Steering Committee, Oct. 25; Business Meeting, Oct. 27; and Executive Meeting, Oct. 27. About 70 people attended the organizing meeting; Ned Alpers chaired and shared background on ACAS, its accomplishments, the need for new members, and the newsletter. Chris Root reported on political action, noting there has been little change in U.S. policy in southern Africa--not even in Namibia; "Constructive Engagement" has been a failure and repression has increased. ACAS has focused on Congress with some small successes. The House passed several resolutions including the prohibition of new investments, and Senators agreed to a ban on bank loans to the South African government in a committee vote. The Senate gave Mandela honorary citizenship and ask that he be released from jail in South Africa. Root urged closer contacts on the state and local level and gave an update on Howard Wolpe's re-election campaign. The TIAA headquarters is in New York City, pressure is needed there, as well as on local campuses. Teresa Smith responded to questions about the POLISARIO. Alpers reported on building up networks for news contacts across the nation and was pleased with the response. Short articles are needed to expand the newsletter. Bereket Habte Selassie reported on the panel on the Horn; he requested that ACAS (a) condemn North African governments for their slow response to the crisis in the Horn, and (b) condemn the cover-up of Ethiopia's government which is in a struggle with another socialist government in Eritrea. The minutes also mention Immanuel Wallerstein, Ed Ferguson, Jean Sindab, Dave Wiley, Jim Mittelman, Ann Seidman, Bill Minter, Ann Seidman, Richard Tardinaco, Joel Samoff, UNESCO, oil, gold, diamonds, and the food crisis.

African Activist Archive

MINUTES OF FOUR MEETINGS OF ACAS DURING ASA, 1984

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