An organization in transition: The Capital District Coalition Against Apartheid and Racism CD-CAAR becomes CD-CSAAR The Capital District Coalition for Southern Africa and Against Racism Box 3002 Pine Hills Station Albany, New York 12203 A project of the Social Justice Center March, 1995 A Message from Vera Michelson. .. Remembering CD-CHAR As we mark the one year anniversary of the April, 1994 elections in South Africa and the transition of the country from a racist apartheid regime to a non-racial democracy under the leadership of Nelson Mandela, the Capital District Coalition Against Apartheid and Racism (CD-CAAR) is undergoing a reorganization. The following CD-CAAR steering committe members - Vera Michelson, Mark Mishler, Mabel Leon, Debbie Maxwell, Eileen Kawola and Roli Varma - will be leaving. The new effort will be named the Capital District Coalition for Southern Africa and Against Racism (CD-CSAAR pronounced CD- CZAR). Members of the new steering committee are Josephine Burke Baptiste, Gail Byrnes, Tauheedah Madyun, Merton Simpson (Chairperson), Oswald Sykes, and James Wright. But before we end this chapter of CD-CAAR, I felt it important that we pay tribute to the many people who played significant roles in the life of the organization and the anti-apartheid struggle . Some of these people are remembered for their continuous work in the organization and some are remembered for their collaboration on special projects . Of course, this chronology only touches on the highlights of the past 14 years . This is not an attempt to capture it all . I know that we are compiling this list at great risk as it is guaranteed that we will omit people and organizations in this impossible task. Comprehensive listings were not always available for all the projects and work we did over the years . For any ommissions, I am deeply apologetic. I hope that this journey through the past 14 years will bring back fond memories for all who have participated in this movement . We begin at the beginning. Apartheid came to Albany, New York in 1981 when the South African rugby team, the Springboks, were scheduled to play a game at Sleeker Stadium on September 22nd of that year. That summer of 1981 and the September Springbok rugby game is forever etched in the mind of most Albanians . Never has there been such an exciting time - long meetings, After discussions about march routes, civil disobedience, organizing buses, reports on discuss the the progress of campus organizing, the unions, Vets, the churches, trying to get the Should it ci city council to stop the game, pressure on Mayor Coming to stop the game, legal and the res briefs to get Governmor Carey to stop the game and leafleting every single event in the Capital District. Countless hours were spent organizing forum after forum until In th apartheid and rugby became the primary media issues of the summer. Never had internationa there been an issue which bound so many diverse people together so rapidly and entertainers with such great conviction. Out of that organizing effort, the Capital District the divestmen Coalition Against Apartheid and Racism was born. national and i Some names that come to mind as instrumental in pulling off the effort are: In 19 NAACP leadership E.J. Josey (moved to Pittsburgh), Mike Dollard, (E .J. Josey participatin and Mike Dollard later continued in leadership positions on the steering committee r buildings. C during the early years of CD-CAAR) Clara Satterfield, Frank Pogue, and Harry Building rest'. Hamilton. Others like Nebraska Brace, Brian O'Shaughnessy, Japhet Zwana, orders to leav Maggie Kirwin, Greg Bell, Liz Pearson, Tony Smith, Frank Fitzgerald, Pearl and Robert Dixon Jim Campbell (deceased), Herb Crossman, Bob Rogers, Lillie McLaughlin, Boji Wittner, John Jordan, Iry Landau, Iris Berger, Liz Rifkin, Lester Wooten, Pat Beetle, Mike Kozak, Rev.Louis Brewer, Karen Brammer, Delores Kirkwood Brown, David On tl Easter, Jim McCoy, Barry Sample, Dorothy Tristman, Howard Straker, Peter entertainer Thierung, Scottie Wexler, George King, Darby Penny, Nancy Flowers, Pat - Africa in vii Purcell, a host of clergy and many organizers, some of whom we will mention Mightey Clot later. Some of these activists remained involved with CD-CAAR as the years went -CAAR, by fi on . Corea were pi for the mover The organizing efforts culminated in an anti-apartheid rugby in under the p demonstation of 3,000 people, in spite of postponements and a until aparthei pouring down rain and a changing schedule due to legal attempts to these docun have the game cancelled. It is L~ 13LxK M!UOR1TV RU boycott wit] tv ¶OUTh' ArltsJl. collaborated ► Angeles), Elo When (my) Vera Michelson's apartment was raided by FBI, state Geobshi (AN and city police the night before the rugby game and John Spearman, Georgia Urba Michael Young, Aaron Estes and Michelson were arrested, attorneys Anita Thayer phone with w (long time steering committee member), Lanny Walter and Lew Oliver worked on promoters. the defense. The charges against Michelson and Estes were thrown out. Michelson and Estes pursued a civil suit against the city which was settled out of court for Rem $47,000.Prominent and controversial attorney William Kunstler was brought into Saratoga Pe the case and Spearman and Young were acquitted after a two week long trial. and the Tro cultural boy( Recently the Albany Times Union ran a front page story identifying Winfield (stet Michael Fitzpatrick as the probable FBI informant who lied about an arsenal of (steering corn weapons which were supposedly stashed somewhere in my apartment. Reszin Adam! Fitzpatrick is currently claiming that Qubilah Shabazz hired him to assassinate Malone, Mart Scott, Ike Blaq Minister Louis Farrakhan. (see enclosed article) gs, After the Springboks went home members of CD-CAAR met to )orts on discuss the future of the organization . Was it an ad hoc group? to get the Should it continue? Clearly the decisions was reached to carry on te, legal and the rest, as they say, is history. .e event in rum until In the mid-80' s the anti-apartheid struggle picked up steam wer had internationally. The Free South Africa Movement, the cultural boycott of dly and entertainers who performed in South Africa, the South African products boycott and rict the divestment campaign all took hold in the Capital District as CD-CAAR grew to national and international prominence. ffort are: In 1985, CD-CAAR joined the Free South Africa Movement by J. Josey participating in nationally coordinated actions against U.S. Federal )mmittee buildings. On Jan. 17, 1985, an anti-apartheid protest at the Leo O'Brien Federal J Harry Building resulted in the arrest of 10 civic and religious leaders as they disobeyed wana, orders to leave the lobby. Among those arrested with much fanfare were Rev. Pearl and Robert Dixon, Isaac Bracey, Rev. Alvin Porteous, Nancy Burton, Lawrence lin, Boji Wittner, John Funicello, Rev. Allan Delameter and Rev . Brian O'Shaughnessy. Mike David On the cultural front CD-CAAR picketed almost every Peter entertainer who came through here who had ever performed in South Pat Africa in violation of the cultural boycott ; Paul Anka, the Beach Boys, mtion Mightey Clouds of Joy, Della Reese, Johnny Mathis. But the biggest "hits " for CD 'ears went -CAAR, by far, were the Temptations, Ray Charles and Chick Corea . Charles and Corea were picketed several tunes by CD- CAAR . In some very important victories for the movement against apartheid and for CD-CAAR, the Temps and Chick caved rugby in under the pressure and wrote statements vowing not to return to South Africa la until apartheid had been defeated. (Because of the historical nature of mpts to these documents, we are attaching them to this newsletter) It is impossible to discuss our participation in the cultural boycott without mentioning those with whom we actively collaborated on the national level : Ron Wilkins (Unity in Action - Los Angeles), Flambe Brath (Patrice Lumumba Coalition, New York City), Thandi BI, state Geobshi (ANC, Atlanta), Norman Otis Richmond (Toronto), Shikhulu Shange, and ^man, Georgia Urban (retired area jazz columnist), all of whom spent many hours on the ita Thayer phone with us mapping out strategy and assisting in discussions with managers and corked on promoters. Michelson curt for Remember the many hours spent walking picket lines at the Saratoga Performing Arts Center, Heritage Park, the Palace Theater, ►ught into trial. and the Troy Music Hall? Local names immediatedly associated with the cultural boycott (as well as many other campaigns) are Donna Perry, Odell itifving Winfield (steering committee), Barbara Henderer, David Mack, Pat Trowers arsenal of (steering committee), George Mallory, Carol Hausen, Larry Mauldin, Mary Scott, Reszin Adams, Cleo Carter, Malcom Carter, Jim Wright (steering committee), Pat assassinate Malone, Martin Manley, Jabari Penda, Masani Penda, Shirley Lumpkin, Tony Scott, Ike Black, Naomi Jaffee (a tireless worker wherever she was needed), Mark Mishler (steering committee), Mabel Leon (steering committee), Sue Ray, Thandi and Japhet Zwana (steering committee), Martin Manley, Reszin Adams, Fred Kakumba (steering committee), John Funicello, Fred Pfeiffer . (Bulletin: CD- Sipho Seepe, Moth CAAR members Pat Trowers and Craig Johnson met at the Ray Union College), Za Charles/Saratoga Jazz Fest Boycott. They eventually tied the knot (living in Maryland and now live in Indiana.) now studying in So earning two Master Names more closely associated with the OTB tennis boycott (as well loving Cape Town as many other campaigns) were Doug Williams, Les Davis, Roli Varma (treasuer and steering committee), Bill Ritchie (steering committee), Mona and Mike Reddick The Africar (steering committee), Joe Allen (Schenectady NAACP), Gary Pavlick and many Southern Africa b cultural boycott activists previously mentioned. in Arusha, Tanzani2 South Africa, Moza The divestment campaign to get NY State pension funds out of Walston as CD-CA.