PROPOSAL FOR A WORKING CONFERENCE TO STRENGTHEN AND COORDINATE THE WORK OF LOCAL U.S. GROUPS WORKING AGAINST APARTHEID IN SOUTHERN AFRICA

Contents: SPONSORSHIP AND PLANNING • AGENDA • I. Overview of current political situation • II. Local groups getting to know each other • III. Sharing and evaluating local strategies • IV. How can the forces of opposition to white rule in southern Africa be strengthened in the United States? • TIME AND PLACE • WHO SHOULD COME? • COSTS • BASIS OF UNITY FOR THE GROUP • The document says local groups across the country working to oppose Apartheid and white minority domination in southern Africa suffer from isolation and lack of coordination; we believe that greater collaboration is vital if the existing groups are to become a more effective national force in opposing Apartheid and U.S. support for minority rule in southern Africa; we think that a short working conference for members of local anti-Apartheid groups would be a first step toward greater effectiveness. The document says the conference will focus on strengthening action in the United States to oppose minority rule in South Africa, and, secondarily, in Rhodesia and Namibia; while support for the reconstruction of Mozambique, Guinea-Bissau, the Cape Verde Islands and Angola is an important issue, a brief conference cannot address all of these questions adequately. The document says representatives of local groups from different cities could give short presentations on the current work of their groups and their perspective on the most important issues to work on at this time. The document says we suggest that the planning meeting and conference be held in the midwest, perhaps in Chicago or Madison, Wisconsin; we anticipate that a three-day conference would be necessary to make serious headway on the substantial questions that face us; we suggest meeting from mid-morning Friday to mid-afternoon Sunday on a three-day weekend in early fall, after schools are in session. The document says the invitation to the conference should contain some statement of unity, so that we will be starting from a common basis; the system of white minority rule in southern Africa will not be overturned either by appeals to the goodwill of the ruling minority or by gradual reforms such as increased wages for Blacks, abolition of "petty apartheid" or internal or international dialogue or "détente"; the only just and viable solution in southern Africa is full political participation by all citizens; the African people of southern Africa have the right to choose such means as may be necessary, including the use of armed force, to achieve their liberation; citizens of the United States can support the struggle, which is primarily that of the African people; the United States is supporting minority rule in southern Africa and is hindering progress toward majority rule. The document discusses in southern Africa since the Portuguese coup, the strategies of the white regimes to maintain their power, progressive groups in southern Africa, presentations from a few experts and representatives of liberation movements, current trends in U.S. policy, boycotts, legislative action, exposure of U.S. complicity with Apartheid through the media, demonstrations, liberation support work, sustenance and internal development, collaboration with other local groups, churches, labor unions, civil rights groups, progressive groups, parties, politicians, working against apartheid, Bantustans, citizens of the United States, and the struggle.