The demonstration yesterday near the South African Embassy protesting that government’s policy of racial separation was described as “eminently successful” by Hyman Bookbinder, Washington representative of the American Jewish Committee.
An estimated 250 to 300 Jewish protesters turned out on Christmas Day to relieve their Christian colleagues so they could spend the holiday with their families and friends. There were no incidents or arrests.
In New York, meanwhile, four protesters were arrested yesterday in a demonstration outside the South African Consulate organized by the New Jewish Agenda. The four were issued summonses and released.
The Washington demonstration was part of the ongoing anti-apartheid protests in front of the Embassy building. The protests have been arranged by Trans Africa, which began the Free South Africa demonstrations November 21.
Jewish groups participating here included the New Jewish Agenda, the American Jewish Committee, the Jewish Labor Committee, the Union of American Hebrew Congregations and the Jewish Community Council.
THREE-FOLD PURPOSE CITED
Bookbinder said Jewish participation in the prottest serves a three-fold purpose. First, he said, it served to demonstrate that the Jewish community is opposed to apartheid and “considers it a repugnant system.”
Secondly, Bookbinder said, it demonstrated to the Christian community that by giving them a “day off,” the Jewish community is not insensitive to the Christmas holiday and its significance to the Christian community, despite continued opposition to the use of public funds for creche and nativity displays.
Finally, he said that while Black-Jewish relations have been strained, the Jewish participation at the demonstration on Christmas shows that Blacks and Jews “are indeed close allies in the struggle for human freedom and social justice.”
“If we can make another contribution to Black-Jewish cooperation, it is a day well spent, ” Bookbinder said. “Our central message today is for the people of South Africa — a message of determination that freedom-loving people around the world will continue to voice our condemnation of apartheid.”
The New Jewish Agenda, in a statement issued yesterday, said: “This effort will permit Christian supporters of the Free South Africa movement the opportunity to spend the day with family and friends while sending the South African government the clear message that the struggle against their racist, apartheid policies will not cease even for a single day.”
The demonstrations in New York and Washington included a menorah lighting ceremony, marking the eighth and final day of Chanukah. Similar demonstrations were reportedly held in Seattle and Cleveland.
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