End U.S. Support for South African Apartheid and End Racism at Home On April 20, 1985 in San Francisco, Washington, DC and other cities across the country. hundreds of thousands of people will march and rally to protest policies of government which are destructive to human life. The Reagan Administra­ tion continues to erase past initiatives in favor of affirmative action and social justice. Those policy shifts represent a definite retreat from previous national commitments to equal opportunity and social progress and are especially negative in impact upon Black, Latino and Asian people. The Anti­ Apartheid Contingent of the Spring .Mobilization for Peace, Jobs ©" Justice reflects the unity of all who support rights to self-determination, political independence and social justice for the peoples of the world. Join the Anti-Apartheid Contingent of the April 20 March and Rally to protest U.S. support for apartheid in South Africa and racism at home! Background.. What is Apartheid? Bantustans are one of the central white child. These are some aspects, elements of apartheid. Bantustans in human terms. of the system of South Africa is a country of 30 are isolated areas that have been terror and repression known as million people; 4.5 million are white, designated "homelands" for Black apartheid. 22. 7 million are Black and 2.6 Africans. These areas. which com­ Indian and mixed race. Apartheid is prise 13% of South Africa's territory, U.S. Involvement in South Africa an Afrikans word meaning separate are being called "homelands" for all U.S corporations and banks have development, and is a system of Black Africans, who comprise 73% invested more than $15 billion forced racial separation used by the of the population. The South dollars in South Africa The fact is white minority government of African government has declared 4 that U.S. corporations take millions South Africa to control the Black of these bantustan areas "indepen­ in profits from the slave wages of majority. dent." therefore stripping 8 million apartheid. Under the system of apartheid, people of their South African U.S. corporations now dominated the Black majority has no political citizenship. It is the white minority several vital South African indus­ or civil rights. Black people in South government's intention to make all tries: transportation, energy and Africa have cannot vote, own land, 10 bantustans independent, virtu­ communications. U.S. companies utilize their own natural resources, ally making all Black African for­ control 79 percent of the computer decide where or with whom they will eigners in South African, their own field in that country. IBM alone live, where they will work, and they land. Only the Israeli and South controls nearly 50 percent of com­ cannot participate in the operation African governments recognize the puter market share; of the 320 of the government in any way. bantustans as legitimate nations. computer installations, 240 have In South Africa. the "pass laws" The reality of living under this been leased or purchased from IBM. deny Black people the most basic brutal system means being injured These include installations at the human rights in their own country. or murdered while participating in Anglo-American Corporation, Afri­ Every Black South African 16 years a funeral procession. It means an can Explosive and Chemical Indus­ of age or older must carry a pass average monthly wage of $260 if tries, and Johannesburg Stock book at all timesi and 'is subject to you're Black contrasted to $1,395 Exchange. One third of all IBM immediate arre.S\ff it is forgotten or for whites. It means a Black infant business in South Africa is done improperly filled out. The pass book mortality rate of300 per 1000 in the with the government. IBM along includes an individual identifica­ Bantustans with a white infant with Burroughs, Sperry Rand, tion number, photo, fingerprints, mortality rate of 13 per 1000 live Control Data and Honeywell supply date of birth and place of of birth, births. It means a doctor patient computers used to implement pass tribe and "homeland." An average of ratio of 1to330 ifyou're white and 1 laws. influx control of migrant 1.000 people are arrested every day to 19,000 if you're Black. It means laborers, coordinate information for pass law violations! Pass book the government spends $1 70 per for police establishments and over­ raids are a common occurrence in year on your education if you're a see nuclear power systems and South Africa Black child and $1, 150 if you're a weapons of the Atomic Energy Board. Over 30 U.S. corporations heid regime is linked to high levels all shipments from Sou u1 ruri..,a, report $50 million or more in of unemployment, reduced social and that the U.S. government end annual sales or 1,000 or more services, increased military spend­ all political and economic ties with workers in South Africa. Some of ing, union busting.and attacks on the South African government. The them are: Bank of America Chase affirmative action and the Voting movement scored a major victory Manhattan Bank, Chrysler, Citi­ Rights Act. when the Oakland City Council corp, Coca-Cola Exxon, Ford Motor A terrible reality which threatens passed a resolution urging the Port Company, General Electric, General the peace of the entire world is the Commission not to allow South Motors, Manufacturers Hanover fact that the brutal South African Africa ships to dock in the Port of Trust. Crocker National Bank, apartheid regime now has the Oakland. Texaco and United Technologies. capability to manufacture nuclear In January 1985, the San Fran­ In the financial field, U.S. finan­ weapons. In 1957, the U.S. and cisco Central Labor Council unan­ cial institutions hold 33 percent of South Africa entered into a bilateral imously passed · a resolution con­ all outstanding loans to South nuclear energy cooperation pact. demning apartheid. A resolution Africa By 1983, U.S. banks had and this relationship continues. was introduced at the Port Com­ surpassed their English counter­ South Africa produced weapons mission of San Francisco regarding parts with a total of 4.5 billion in grade uranium and cobalt 60, action on cargo to or from South commercial bank loans to South mined in Namibia and processed in Africa Africa representing an expansion South Africa South Africa is one of Nationally, the Free South Africa of. 332 percent within the last 15 the 25 countries in the world which Movement has been carrying out years. The lion's share of U.S. bank are suppliers of cobalt 60, as a result daily picketing at the South African loans have been made by Manufac­ of its illegal occupation of Namibia Embassy in Washington, D.C. Many turers Hanover Trust, Citicorp, in violation of League of Nations participants in these actions have Chase Manhattan, Bank of America mandates and United Nations been arrested, including members and Morgan Guaranty.As Pretoria's mandates. A nation in which access of Congress, national Black political largest lender, Citicorp holds 25 to resources is denied to people on leaders, artists, entertainers, trade percent of the total U.S. claims the basis of race is conducting unionists and members of the against that country, with total loan racial genocide, despite pious state­ media ments to the contrary. A nation in liabilities reaching 200 million. By Recent demonstrations in the which a dominant minority im­ law, Citibank, as well as all foreign Bay Area have included a picket in poses genocidal policies on an companies operating in the coun­ San Francisco to protect promotion oppressed majority is not likely to try, must retain 15 percent of their of travel to South Africa a protest exercise restraint in the use of against the presence at the St. public assets in South African nuclear arms in international rela­ Francis Hotel of South African government bonds. tions. South Africa currently is ambassador Bernardus Fouri, pic­ Political arrangements in South violating national boundaries of kets demanding the closing of Africa which serve the economic neighboring countries with total offices pf South African Airlines, interests of these U.S. firms are disregard for world opinion. interpreted by many politicians and and a symbolic burning of pass by th~ media as serving "the books by women in Oakland, in national interest" of the United In the Bay Area-Recent Actions sisterhood with African women. States. However, the interests of in the Anti-Apartheid Movement On March 15 in front of IBM working people, both in South Last November the people of San headquarters in Oakland, to protest Africa and in the United States, are Francisco took a firm stand against that corporation's role and pres­ not served by U.S. penetration of apartheid when 63 percent of the ence in South Africa, a demonstra­ South African industry or by voters approved Proposition "J," tion was held, organized by Child­ increasing the power of an apart­ directing the City and County to ren Against South African Apart­ heid society. Plant closings in the withdraw some $337 million dollars heid. This development indicates United States which coincide with in pension funds invested in South that the level of consciousness the expansion of investment in Africa This campaign for divest­ about the Pretoria regime, particu­ South Africa illustrate the very ment featured an effective program larly among Black youth, has been negative consequences of this rela­ of community education about raised considerably by increasing tionship. Alr~ady plants and the apartheid. mobilization of anti-apartheid pro­ jobs of Nortlr American workers are Also in November, the San Fran­ tests.