Letter from David Bacon to Walter Johnson, Executive Secretary of the San Francisco Labor Council. The letter says a meeting was held in Congressman Ron Dellums' office to plan for developing local support in the Bay Area for comprehensive sanctions legislation against South Africa, HR 21 and SB 507. HR 21, reintroduced this session by Congressman Dellums with over 100 cosponsors, was passed twice before by the House. SB 507 is sponsored by Senators Simon and Kennedy. Senator Cranston strongly support the bill, but Senator Pete Wilson has previously opposed it. The meeting was attended by representatives of the Free South Africa Labor Committee, the San Francisco Anti-Apartheid Committee, the...
Letter from David Bacon to Walter Johnson, Executive Secretary of the San Francisco Labor Council. The letter says a meeting was held in Congressman Ron Dellums' office to plan for developing local support in the Bay Area for comprehensive sanctions legislation against South Africa, HR 21 and SB 507. HR 21, reintroduced this session by Congressman Dellums with over 100 cosponsors, was passed twice before by the House. SB 507 is sponsored by Senators Simon and Kennedy. Senator Cranston strongly support the bill, but Senator Pete Wilson has previously opposed it. The meeting was attended by representatives of the Free South Africa Labor Committee, the San Francisco Anti-Apartheid Committee, the A. Phillip Randolph Institute, SEIU Local 790, Molders Union Local 164B, the National Lawyers Guild, and CISTUR. It was agreed to propose a rally supporting the bills to be held on June 15, at 5 p.m., on the eve of Soweto Day, in front of the Ferry Building in San Francisco, where Pete Wilson's offices are located. At noon on the same day, a press conference is planned, where major union, religious and community leaders and public officials will announce the start of a campaign to support the bills' passage. This is part of a national campaign being launched in Washington D.C. by TransAfrica on the same day. Until Congress votes, a local campaign is planned including getting postcards sent to Wilson to ask him to vote for the bill, buttons to give visibility to sanctions, and getting supportive resolutions passed in unions, churches, city councils, and other public bodies. The letter asks for endorsement of the Labor Council for the June 15 rally, Johnson's personal endorsement, and his participation in the press conference. A summary of the bill and the AFL-CIO 1987 Convention Resolution supporting sanctions are enclosed.
