L.A. demo marks Soweto anniversary
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LOS ANGELES-Chanting, "Free the children now!" more than 300 people demonstrated on June 16 in front of the South African Consulate in exclusive Beverly Hills. The demonstration, which drew the support of several trade-union locals, church groups, and peace organi -zations, demanded an end to U.S. support of the apartheid regime.
June 16 marked the 11th anniversary of the Soweto uprising. In 1976, over 1000 people, mainly youth, were killed and thousands were arrested in the struggle to end apartheid policies which prevent the children of Soweto and all of South Africa from having equal opportunities in education.
Today the people of South Africa continue the struggle. Over 1 million workers and students participated in a nationwide general strike on June 16 to commemorate the Soweto uprising.
Last month, the racist apartheid regime extended the year-old state of emergency laws under which some 30,000 people have been arrested and detained.
According to the Black Sash Organi -zation and the Parent Detainee Support Committee, the number of children and youth placed in detention in the past year is between 10,000 and 16,000.
Bernard Walker, a coordinator of the Los Angeles Free South Africa Movement, which sponsored the June 16 demonstra -tion, said:
"We are all here to gain some support to challenge the current administration on their policy on Southern Africa.
"One of the key things is to make sure that the people know that this administra -tion in no way supports freedom movements, as they claim they do in Mozambique and in Angola, as they claim they do in Nicaragua.
"History calls them liars. Not one historical incident has ever occurred that proves they support any freedom movement of any people of color anywhere in the world."