,------------------ - STUDENT ANTI-APARTHEID NEWSLETTER ~ ArnericanCorrrnitteeOnICabl~Africa cv 198 Broadway, New Yo", N.Y. 100381(212)962·1210 AMCOMMAF Prepared by Josh... NesMn, Student Coordinator REPORT ON NATIONAL STUDENT CONFERENCE ON SOUTH AFRICA AND NAMIBIA From November 1-3. 1985 500 student activists from 35 states and over 100 schools gathered for a National Student Conference on South Africa and Namibia at Hunter College. The conference, organized by student groups and the American Committee on Africa. was the largest student anti-apartheid conference in many years and succeeded in attracting groups from all regions of the country, particularly ,the South. Following the successful October 11 National Protest Day. the conference was important in developing a political agenda for the upcoming year at a critical moment for the student anti-apartheid movement. The main organizational and political directions emerging from the conference were: l)Mobilization for 1986 National Weeks of Anti-Apartheid Action from March 21~ April 6. with April 4 as a National Divestment Protest Day in commemoration of Martin Luther King. (SEE AND REPRODUCE ENCLOSED FLYER) (Info packet: 212-962-1210) 2)An immediate push to prevent any American aid to UNITA, South Africa's surrogate in Angola. Telegram your Congressional Representative: Rep • US House of Representatives, Wash DC 20515 and call #202-224-3121 (See enclosed Action Alert) 3)National Student Material Aid Drive, in which each school would attempt 'to raise ($500) for Namibian and South African refugee projects with all funds going through the Africa Fund. The target amount would be raised by the end of February, with events during February Black History Month being crucial. For information on projects of the Africa Fund: 198 Bway NYC 10038 #212-962-1210 4)The conference affirmed the importance of strengthening regional coordination in the student anti-apartheid movement and encouraged the formation of city-wide student coalitions (as in Washington DC). Regional conferences will be held building up to the Weeks of Action in: l)Midwest (Chicago Nov 15-17) #203-346-1667 ii)Northeast (February 1-2). Planning meeting Sat Nov 23 at Wesleyan Univ (11am-5pm) , For transport info: ACOA #212-962-1210 (Middltown CT) iii)Sbuth.Planning meeting Jan 18. For info: AFSC/Atlanta #404-586-0460 and #404-691-1531 (D. Redding) 5)The conference emphasized that struggles against domestic racism must be intimately linked to anti-apartheid organizing, and that Black students need to playa leading role in the anti-apartheid movement. 6)While divestment will remain the central focus of campus organizing, it is critical to build direct political and material support for the liberation movements and to oppose Reagan's policy of "constructive engagement" which above all aims to prevent the coming to power of the ANC and SWAPO. Students from these states attended the conference: Alabama, Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland. Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota. Missouri, New Hampshire. New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island. Tennessee. Texas, Vermont. Virginia, Washington, Washington DC, West Virginia, Wisconsin plus groups from Montreal. Toronto, and Sweden. CONFERENCE SESSIONS Friday November 1 Opening Session Conference participants were welcomed by Diane Dwyer, president of the Hunter College D~y Session Student Government, who played a key role in the successful struggle for divestment at City University of New York. She was followed by Claire ;oha~ of the African National Congress Youth Section, Monica Nashandi of the SWAPO out League, and Roger Uriarte of the National Union of Nicaraguan Students who all had participated in a Fall "Boycott South Africa Not Nicaragua" tour of over twenty campuses. Claire Mohapi and Monica Nashandi stressed the cutting edge role of students in southern Africa and in the United States, and the need to oppose Reagan's destructive policy of "cons tructive engagement". Roger Uriarte was greeted with a standing ovation and chants of "Non Passaran" (They shall not pass) and under­ scored the importance of linking the anti-apartheid struggle to organizing against U.S. intervention 1n Central America. Norma Francis of Hunter College moderated. Another speaker was Dumisani Kumalo of the American Committee on Africa and a South African exile. Mr. Kumalo highlighted recent state divestment victories in New Jersey ($2 billion), New Mexico ($150 million) and Minnesota ($1.1 billion) and then focused on corporate strategizing against divestment: "U.S. companies claim to be in South Africa to help Black people. They love us more than we love ourselves. If General Motors loved Black people so much, why are they laying them off in Detroit. II The opening session was also marked by a showing of the anti-apartheid video "Ain't Gonna Play Sun Citt' which was introduced by Little Steven (Van Zandt), author of the song which 1S raising money for refugee projects in southern Africa through the Africa Fund. New York State Assemblyman Roger Green closed out the evening by stressing the importance of community-student alliances, and the need to push for New York divestment legislation in November's special legislative session. For more information contact Assemblyman Green's office: #718-596-0100 Saturday November 2 Student Anti-Apartheid Movement Panel This morning panel presented an overview of student organizing and featured Erich Nakano from the University of California/Berkeley, Tanaguil Jones from Columbia University, Keith Jennings of Atlanta University, Karen Seavers from the University of Wisconsin/Madison, and Joshua Nessen of the American Committee on Africa, with Willy Terry of the Black Student Communications Organizing Network as moderator. All speakers emphasized the importance of linking anti-apartheid organizing to struggles against domestic racism and the key role of Black student leadership in the movement. Panelists also stressed the necessity of direct, militant action in campus struggles, given the undemocratic corporate character of the university. It was noted that since the escalation of tactics in April, there had been 30 total or partial divestment moves by U.S. schools. Speakers also underlined the need to broaden understanding and support for the unfolding liberation struggle in South Africa and Namibia and to see divestment as simply one means to support that struggle. Panel on U.S. Foreign Policy Will'iam ~oh~ston of Episcop~l Churchpeople for a Free Southern Africa and . ~amy Smjth of the Washington Office on Africa.highlighted the regional character of U.S. policy which has consistently backed South Africa in its repression domestically, attacks on the frontline states, and stalling on Namibian independence. The growing pressure to fund UNITA in Angola is part of a right-wing strategy to shift attention away from South Africa and could have serious reprecussions for the liberation struggles in Namibia and South Africa. This is particularly true given Angola's role as a firm rear base for SWAPO and ANC armed combatants. ~orkshop Summaries (more complete report available from ACOA on request) The heart of conference was a series of small to medium group discussions dealing with a wide-range of grass roots organizing strategies. I Material Aid Workshop (Moderators: ANC, SWAPO, Africa Fund). l)National .Student Material Aid Campaign. By end of February Black History Month seek to raise $500/campus for Africa Fund. 2)Can target projects of ANC and SWAPO but all money collected would first go through the Africa Fund. 3)Link up to community groups in this effort and organize a large February event. II U.S. Foreign Policy l)lmmediate telegram campaign in opposition to any aid toUNITA. 2)Washington Office on Africa, DC Student Coalition Against Apartheid and Racism, and the U.S. Student Association plan to establish a National Legislative Alert Network to bring all campuses information on legislation affecting southern Africa. 3)For up-tO-date information contact: Washington Office on Africa 202-546-7961 DC~SCAR: 202-333-2532 III Current Developments in Namibia l)South Africa currently has over 100,000 troops in Namibia, making it one of the most heavily occupied/militarized countries in the world. 2)There is an urgent need for education on the situation in Namibia, given the complete media blackout on developments there. 3)The U.S. people must firmly oppose Reagan and South Africa'slinkage of Namibian independence to the withdrawal of Cuban troops from Angola. 4)Students must call for divestment from U.S. firms involved in Namibia as well as those investing ~n South Africa. 5)For up-tO-date info: SWAPO, 801 2nd Ave NYC 10017 #212-557-2450 Episcopal Churchpeople 339 Lafayette NYC 10003 #212-477-0066 IV Workshop on Divestment Organizing l)The process of organizing for divestment has been an effective means of mobilizing students and has actually discouraged U.S. investment in South Africa. -Billions of new U.S. investment has been prevented (John Chettle, SA Foundat.) ~Since January 1985 17 U.S. companies have ceased operations in South Africa. 2)lt is important to broaden the scope of economi~ action to include: a)Support·for the Pledge For Freedom not to work for U.S. ·companies involved in South Africa.· For info contact: NYPIRG, 9 Murray St NYC 10007 #649-6460 V Domestic Racism and Sexism l)Black and Third World Student leadership and involvement is critical in the movement and predominantly white anti-apartheid groups should thus: a)Take up issues of concern to Black and Third World communities. b)Ensure adequate representation of Black, Third World, and women students in positions of leadership. c)Develop agendas that focus on racism and sexism in educational institutions. 2)lt is important to develop an anti-apartheid curriculum &bring to high schools. 3)Create national network of progressive students serviced by a national news­ letter to exchange info, particularly on FBI/ State harassment of movement.