Growing calls for cancellation of FW De Klerk lecture on racism

The Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) have joined the chorus of opposition to the invited extended to former South African president, FW De Klerk by the American Bar Association (ABA).

The association announced earlier in the week that the Nobel Prize laureate had been invited to speak at its virtual conference in early July. This has been met with criticism and calls for ABA to reconsider their decision.

EFF lays into De Klerk

The EFF has followed suit, calling for the rejection of an “unrepentant racist” by all those who align with anti-racism and justice.

“The invite extended to FW de Klerk by the American Bar Association is a spit in the face of the efforts being waged by the Black Lives Matter movement and the broader global call for the end to the violence and criminalisation of black people.

Economic Freedom Fighters

The party said the continued invites extended to De Klerk by the US legal fraternity is ironic, given that he headed an apartheid state.

It added that the 84-year-old did not believe in constitutionalism, and only gave into negotiations with liberation movements because of pressure from the global community.

“De Klerk presided over the state-sanctioned killings of black activists and is the embodiment of the racism which is entrenched in the United States law enforcement agencies which resulted in the death of George Floyd and countless African Americans in the recent past.”

Economic Freedom Fighters

FW De Klerk urged to acknowledge role in apartheid

De Klerk has often drawn criticism from those accusing him of not accounting for his role in the atrocities handed out by the apartheid regime.

Earlier in the year, he sparked controversy by saying apartheid was not a crime against humanity, during an interview with the SABC.

Howard Varney, an activist who worked with the Truth and Reconciliation Commission, said De Klerk did not deserve the platform handed to him by ABA.

“Since he persists with his charade of denial and ignorance he certainly does not. I urge you to replace this event with one that looks seriously and honestly at racism in South Africa and the role of key stakeholders, such as De Klerk.”

Howard Varney

De Klerk will speak in a segment titled “Lessons Learned in the Crucible of Courage and Conscience” with American lawyer and screenwriter, Jonathan Granoff.

According to ABA, the lecture will touch on a range of subjects, which include constitutional democracy, minority rights, social change and racism.