Bill Text: NY J00545 | 2019-2020 | General Assembly | Introduced

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Bill Title: Commemorating the 29th Anniversary of the release of Nelson Mandela from Victor Verster Prison on February 11, 1990

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)

Status: (Passed) 2019-03-05 - ADOPTED [J00545 Detail]

Download: New_York-2019-J00545-Introduced.html

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Senate Resolution No. 545

BY: Senator PARKER

        COMMEMORATING  the 29th Anniversary of the release
        of Nelson Mandela  from  Victor  Verster  Prison  on
        February 11, 1990

  WHEREAS,  Nelson  Mandela  was born at Qunu, near Umtata on July 18,
1918; his father was a chief councilor  to  Thembuland's  acting  chief,
David  Dalindyebo;  when  his  father died, Nelson was groomed to become
chief of his local tribe, however, he would never be able to  make  this
commitment; and

  WHEREAS,  While  at  University,  Nelson Mandela became increasingly
aware of the unjust nature of South African  Society;  the  majority  of
Black  South  Africans  had  little  opportunities  either  economic  or
political; much to the  disappointment  of  his  family,  Nelson  became
involved in politics, and along with his good friend and comrade, Oliver
Tambo, was expelled from Fort Hare for organizing a student strike; and

  WHEREAS,  However,  Nelson Mandela was able to finish his degree and
qualified as a lawyer; in 1952, Nelson and Oliver opened the first Black
law firm in South Africa; the Transvaal Law Society  tried  to  have  it
closed down, but was blocked by the South African Supreme Court; and

  WHEREAS,  By  the  late  1950s,  the  South African state had become
increasingly repressive, making it more difficult for  Nelson  Mandela's
African  National  Congress to operate; he was forced to resign from the
African National Congress and work underground;  from  1956-1961,  there
was  an  extremely  lengthy  "Treason Trial" in which Nelson and several
others were charged with treason; conducting  their  own  defense,  they
eventually proved to be victorious; and

  WHEREAS,  However,  in  1960,  the  Sharpeville Massacre of 63 Black
South Africans changed the whole political  climate;  South  Africa  was
increasingly  isolated  on  the  international  scene and the government
banned the  African  National  Congress;  this  led  Nelson  Mandela  to
advocate armed struggle through the Umkhonto we Sizwe (MK); and

  WHEREAS,  By 1962, Nelson Mandela had been arrested and sentenced to
life imprisonment in the notorious Robben Island prison,  and  later  in
Pollsmoor Prison and Victor Verster Prison; life at the prison was tough
and  uncompromising;  in  his  autobiography he reveals how he sought to
make the best use of his time there;  he  helped  to  keep  other  men's
spirits high and never compromised his political principles when offered
early  release;  towards  the  end  of  his  imprisonment  his treatment
improved as the  South  African  establishment  increasingly  looked  to
negotiation, in the face of international isolation; and

  WHEREAS,  Nelson  Mandela  spent  27  1/2  years imprisoned until an
international movement directed  by  exiled  African  National  Congress
leader Oliver Tambo led to his release; many countries imposed sanctions
on  the  South  African  Government  to  pressure  it  to  dissolve  the
oppressive institution of apartheid; and

  WHEREAS, Upon Nelson Mandela's release, his first official visit  to
the  United  States  began  with  a stop in central Brooklyn on June 21,
1990; and

  WHEREAS, The NYPD estimated that 100,000 Brooklynites greeted Nelson
Mandela's  motorcade  which passed through the neighborhoods of East New
York and Fort Green; and

  WHEREAS, When Nelson Mandela was freed by President Frederik  Willem
de  Klerk,  he began the onerous task of negotiating reforms which would
lead  to  South  Africa's  first  democratic  elections  with  universal
suffrage; and

  WHEREAS,  In  1993, Nelson Mandela was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize
jointly with F.W. De Klerk; and

  WHEREAS, On April 27, 1994, Nelson Mandela was elected the  nation's
first  Black  President; he served one five-year term presiding over the
transition  from  minority  rule  and   apartheid;   his   advocacy   of
reconciliation led to international acclaim and importantly the trust of
the  White  African  population; despite the initial euphoria of winning
the election, the African National Congress faced a difficult  challenge
to improve the lives of the Black population; now, therefore, be it

  RESOLVED,  That  this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to
commemorate the 29th Anniversary of the release of Nelson  Mandela  from
Victor Verster Prison on February 11, 1990.