198 Broadway eNew York, N.Y. 10038 * (212) 962-1210 William H. Booth. President Wyatt Tee Walker. Vice President David Scott Vice President Jennifer Davis, Executive Director Embargoed until December 10, 1992 PRESS RELEASE For more information contact Dumisani Kumalo, 212-962-1210 Civil Rights Leaders urge President-elect Bill Clinton to condemn apartheid's violence As the world finally turns its attention to Somalia, the leaders of the United States civil rights movement, including Dr. Joseph Lowery, Southern Christian Leadership Council, Dr. Benjamin Hooks, NAACP, and Mrs. Coretta Scott King, Martin Luther King Jr. Center, wrote President-elect Bill Clinton asking him to condemn apartheid's violence in South Africa which claims more than ten lives each day. "We have to pressure State President F.W. de Klerk to stop apartheid's violence and protect all South Africans before this situation also gets out of control," said Jennifer Davis, Executive Director of the American Committee on Africa, which coordinated the letter delivered to Little Rock today.

The letter urges Mr. Clinton to expand his stated support for Nelson Mandela and other democratic forces in South Africa by ending the policy that has in the past been "tilted" towards the Pretoria regime.

"In spite of the changes that have taken place (in South Africa), we urge you to remember that although Nelson Mandela is free, neither he nor 30 million black South Africans can vote," continues the letter.

On this International Human Rights Day, more than 200 religious congregations and human rights groups throughout the United States are mourning the 7,000 people who have died since Nelson Mandela was released from Pretoria's jail: in Baltimore, Maryland area colleges are holding teach-ins on South Africa; in Detroit, Michigan an organization of mother's of victims of the violence, SoSad, will hold a demonstration against violence in Detroit and South Africa; in Kansas City, Missouri relatives of people killed in violence in Kansas City and in South Africa will be speaking out at Community Christian Church; and in Seattle, Washington area churches in the Religious Action Network are holding services for the victims of the violence and collecting petitions addressed to State President de Klerk demanding an end to the violence. These communities will be joined by people in more than twenty other cities around the countries protesting the violence as a threat to future democracy in South Africa.

ENDS

Supporting Africanfreedom and independence since 1953 - Established The Africa Fund. 1966 198 Bradway * New York, N.Y. 10038 * (212) 962-1210 William H. Booth. President

Wyatt Tee Walke. l4ce President David Scott Lice President Jennifer Davis, Execuiue Director December 10, 1992 President-elect Bill Clinton Old State House Building 300 West Markham Little Rock, Arkansas 72201 Dear President-elect Clinton, On this International Human Rights Day, we the undersigned join with many religious congregations and human rights groups throughout the United States which are mourning the more than 7,000 victims of apartheid's violence who have died since Nelson Mandela was released from Pretoria's jail. We are horrified that over ten people continue to die in political violence in South Africa every day. And to our dismay, the entire world, including our own United States, fails to act in the face of this ongoing tragedy.

We congratulate you on your election as the 42nd President of the United States. We are encouraged by your statement that change is necessary in the way the United States conducts its foreign policy. It is in that spirit that we are asking you to publicly condemn the South African government's role in perpetuating apartheid's violence. In the past few months, there has been overwhelming evidence proving that some members of the South African army and police are actively engaged in spreading the violence. On the last day of its session, the United States Senate voted unanimously to condemn apartheid's violence. Furthermore, we urge you to expand your support for Nelson Mandela and the democratic forces that are negotiating a new constitution which will bring an end to the system of legalized and institutionalized racism in South Africa. For too long, US policy toward South Africa has been "tilted" towards the white minority regime in Pretoria. In fact, the Bush Administration persistently ignored the reality that State President F.W. de Klerk is - and remains - the apartheid ruler of South Africa. In spite of changes that have taken place, we urge you to remember that although Nelson Mandela is free, neither he nor 30 million black South Africans can vote.

Clearly, the violence is threatening future democracy in South Africa and is likely to continue until the apartheid system is totally eradicated. It is for this reason that we urge you to act within the first month of your presidency to pressure Mr. de Klerk to stop apartheid's violence and protect all South Africans, irrespective of their race. SupportingAfirican fireedom and independence since 1953 Established The Africa Fund. 1966 In South Africa, the churches have chosen the month of December to hold "Peace Before Christmas" rallies to end the violence. On this International Human Rights Day, we hope you will join us in prayers for peace, commemorating those who lost their lives in South Africa. Respectfully yours, Jennifer Davis, Executive Director, American Committee on Africa. Dr. Joseph Lowery, Southern Christian Leadership Conference. Dr. Benjamin Hooks, National Association for the Advancement of Colored People. Mrs. Coretta Scott King, Executive Director, Martin Luther King Jr. Center for Non-Violent Social Change. Dr. Wyatt Tee Walker, Religious Action Network on South Africa. Hon. William Booth, President American Committee on Africa.