Text of a statement explaining reasons to support Dennis Brutus in his case of being denied a visa to remain in the U.S., based on fundamental U.S. principles. Brutus is in involuntary exile from his native South Africa, where he was imprisoned for speaking out against the racist policies of that government - imprisoned for exercising a right which is inalienable in the U.S. but is a crime in South Africa. He was arrested by a government which denies political representation to 80% of the population and whose policies are anathema to the most basic ideals upon which the U.S. was founded. After renewing Brutus' visa year after year, the Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS) now has denied...
Text of a statement explaining reasons to support Dennis Brutus in his case of being denied a visa to remain in the U.S., based on fundamental U.S. principles. Brutus is in involuntary exile from his native South Africa, where he was imprisoned for speaking out against the racist policies of that government - imprisoned for exercising a right which is inalienable in the U.S. but is a crime in South Africa. He was arrested by a government which denies political representation to 80% of the population and whose policies are anathema to the most basic ideals upon which the U.S. was founded. After renewing Brutus' visa year after year, the Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS) now has denied him a renewal of his visa and his request for permanent residence status, and has served him with a deportation order. The United States is founded and fueled by immigrants; one of our most sacred traditions is providing safety to people who are politically, socially, and religiously persecuted in their own countries. At the time of this statement, Brutus was Visiting Professor of Writing at Amherst College in Massachusetts as well as a tenured professor at Northwestern University. The document mentions the recent visit to the White House of South African Prime Minister Botha and Haitian refugees.
