African Activist Archive

This draft report says that the largest political meeting on the University of Chicago campus in a decade took place on Tuesday, Feb. 27th when over 750 students, faculty and others heard six speakers address the issue of corporate involvement in South Africa. Forum participants include former Senator Dick Clark (D-Iowa), currents a special representative for refugees in the Carter Administration; Jennifer Davis, Research Director of the American Committee on Africa in New York; John Chettle, a lobbyist for the South Africa Foundation; Zola Zembe, executive member of the South African Congress of Trade Unions; University of Chicago President Hanna Gray; and Kinsey Wilson representing the Action Committee on South Africa. The forum marked a new stage in the 2-year campaign for University divestiture. Several people asked what position Gray had taken when Morgan Guaranty Trust decided to continue loaning money not only to South African corporations but to the government. Speaking from the floor, Dennis Brutus addressed Gray. Following the forum, Gray was surrounded be a crowd of about 30 students who continued to debate with her for more than an hour. Finally Gray admitted that she had indeed voted with the rest of the Morgan Guaranty Trust board for the bank to continue loans to South Africa.

African Activist Archive

Forum on South Africa in Chicago Draws 750 to Debate Divestment

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