cover image: Letter of invitation from the Committee to Free the SASO 9

Letter of invitation from the Committee to Free the SASO 9

1976

This letter from the Committee to Free the SASO 9 invites people to an emergency meeting about the SASO 9. The letter is white with black text that reads: [June 4, 1976 / Dear Sister/Brother: / INVITATION TO AN EMERGENCY MEETING / The Committee to Free The SASO 9 (South African Students Organ-/ ization) is a group in the United States working to publicize / the plight of our sisters and brothers in South Africa who face / death by hanging if convicted. / Although the original number was nine who have been unjustly / jailed, it is now sixteen, and one member has been tortured to / death. Along with this, two members of SWAPO (South West African / Peoples Organization) in Namibia have been convicted and sentenced / to death by a South African Court. There are many thousands of / prisoners languishing in the jails of South Africa, Namibia and Rhodesia. / The Committee to Free The SAO 9 is calling an urgent meeting / on Wednesday June 9 at 7:00 P.M. The meeting will take place in / Manhattan at 605 West 115th Street, Room 418. / Some of our activities to publicize the trial of SAO, as well as / aid in the release from prison have been: picket lines at the / South African Airways, demonstrations, forums, poetry readings / and speaking engagements. / We in the Committee are urging you to attend as well as send / representatives of your organizations. Our task is to save the SWAPO 2 from hanging, aid in the freeing of the SASO members as / well as all prisoners of apartheid. / Volunteers and funds are urgently needed. / Yours In Struggle, John Akpan / Coordinator / Committee to Free the SASO Nine]. The back of the letter is blank.
africa anti-apartheid movements black power decolonization african americans correspondence international affairs activism african american pan africanism u.s. history, 1969-2001 south african student organisation committee to free the saso 9 akpan, john south african student organization

Authors

Committee to Free the SASO 9, American, South African Student Organization, South African, 1968 - 1977, John Akpan, South African Student Organisation, South African, 1968 - 1977

Collection
National Museum of African American History and Culture Collection Documents and Published Materials Memorabilia and Ephemera-Political and Activist Ephemera Pan Africanism Anti-apartheid movements
Dates
June 4, 1976
Format
Ink on paper
Pages
H x W: 11 × 8 1/2 in. (27.9 × 21.6 cm)
Place Discussed
United States of America South Africa Zimbabwe Namibia
Provider
Smithsonian Institution
Published in
South Africa
Rights
Collection of the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture
Source
Digital Public Library of America https://dp.la/item/f9f3c39386626429c4db646e1f0897a0

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