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DEFENDER | DECEMBER 12 | 2013
Remembering
Mandela
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Local tribut
Freedom fighter memorialized
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Defender News Services
housands of admirers, including presidents, prime ministers, celebrities and South African citizens, gathered at a Johannesburg stadium to say goodbye to Nelson Mandela during a four-hour memorial service. Speakers included President Barack Obama. “We will never see the likes of Nelson Mandela again,” Obama said. “To the people of South Africa – people of every race and every walk of life – the world thanks you for sharing Nelson Mandela with us.” Mandela, who emerged from three decades in prison as a living martyr in the battle against apartheid to become the first Black president of South Africa, died Dec. 5. He was 95 years old. He died at his home in Johannesburg after months of battling a respiratory illness.
As news of the death of the father of modern-day South Africa flashed around the globe, world leaders reacted quickly with condolences and tributes to the man known as Madiba for his graceful, but assertive leadership and noble, but humble bearing. Most of the tributes cited how, in a single term as president, Mandela lead the nation’s peaceful transition to Black rule from first-British and then Afrikaans domination with dignity and a lack of bitterness toward his former oppressors. Mandela emerged from prison in 1990 after serving 27 years of a life sentence for treason to become president of the African National Congress. He was released following an intense international lobbying campaign to free him during a period of increasing political and ethnic strife in South Africa. Although he was denounced as a terrorist and communist by his enemies, he led negotiations with then-South Africa President F.W. de Klerk to abolish apartheid and set multiracial elections in 1994. He was elected president in 1994 and served a single term, until 1999. As president he focused on healing a nation that was deeply divided racially, launched the Truth and Reconciliation Commission to ease ethnic tensions, encouraged land reform in South Africa and initiated measures to battle poverty and improve health care, zeroing in on AIDS. He was also regarded as a global elder statesman, mediating between Libya and the United Kingdom in the Pan Am Flight 103 bombing trial and was the recipient of scores of international awards, including the 1993 Nobel Peace prize. Nelson and Winnie Mandela divorced in 1996 after 38 years of marriage. He is survived by his wife, Grace Machel, and five children.
State Sen. Rodney Mandela, one of history’s hardship demonstrated th Congressman Al G righteousness in the face example of the triumph o Congresswoman Sh human rights lawyer, a pr president of a free, democ Judson Robinson I of freedom and justice ha man’s sacrifice helped an State Rep. Sylveste have known such an ama our lives.”
U.S.
NNP
Nearly three decades organizing a movement th heid in South Africa and f nies to end their support o What was called the ing Day 1984, when U.S. TransAfrica Executive Dir Walter Fauntroy and curr a law professor at George South African Embassy i The group called for cal prisoners in South Af activists staged a sit-in at All but Norton were international news. “There were already tum,” Berry recalls. “We people lined up to get arr They got arrested th day. In fact, every day fo demonstrations at the em The movement attra Congress and other highand allowed themselves t the issue. Before long, ch United States. Mary Frances Berry Pennsylvania, remember “In dealing with him to be with him and talk to Not at all full of himself, was larger than life. He c
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