Anti-apartheid economic protests...Let's share our experiences

[cally]

I became involved in the anti-apartheid political protests in college. I protested, participated in sit-ins at the University, boycotted corporations who had invested in South Africa. The refrain from the middle was that boycotts won't work. The corporations will never notice your little protest. A few college students will not get noticed. Except we did.

It evolved into political and economic pressure. Corporations started back peddling and trying to separate themselves from the SA regime. Obviously, none of our efforts would have made a difference without the sacrifice and longterm struggle of the many activists in South Africa. I believe we made it uncomfortable for corparatists to support that regime.

I believe boycotts work. Not immediately and not obviously. I think corporations want to avoid controversy. They want to be in the middle or at least perceived that way. Whatever we can do to show that supporting the * agenda is not mainstream will work for us.

And yes, I think one day boycotts work to show that many of us notice and care. We will take economic action, if necessary.

[Taxloss]

1. The SA boycott really hurt some UK banks.

They were forced to divest. They work really well.