TransAfrica/Free South Africa Movement

            The Free South Africa Movement was launched on November 23, 1984 in Washington, DC, after Congressman Walter Fauntroy, U.S. Civil Rights Commissioner Dr. Mary Frances Berry, and Mr. Randall Robinson, Executive Director of TransAfrica, were arrested at the South African Embassy.  For one year, TransAfrica/The Free South Africa Movement led daily demonstrations at the Embassy, and thousands of people were arrested in Washington and across the country as they demonstrated against apartheid.  The original goals of the Free South Africa Movement were:

1. To secure the release of the 13 strike labor leaders imprisoned without charge or trial in South Africa;
2. To secure the release of Nelson Mandela, Walter Sisulu and others who are the legitimate leaders of the South African people and have been imprisoned in South African prisons for decades;
3. To compel the start of good faith negotiations between these released leaders and the South African government; and
4. To compel the abandonment of this nation’s accommodationist policy of “constructive engagement” toward the Republic of South Africa.