Sharpeville anniversary

Press, Volume CXI, Issue 32561, 22 March 1971, Page 5

Sharpeville anniversary

Racial discrimination, both in New Zealand and overseas, was a matter with which every New Zealander would have to come to grips, the national chairman of the Halt All Racist Tours organisation (Mr T. Richards) said on Friday in a prepared statement to mark the International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination yesterday the anniversary of the Sharpeville massacre.

“The most worth-while thing that New Zealanders can do to commemorate March 21 is to make special efforts to familiarise themselves with the results and causes of racial discrimination, and to promise themselves to do everything possible to combat it,” he said. “In approaching this matter, both the internal and international situation must be considered, because both are but different sides of the same coin,” said Mr Richards.

He said that he felt there was a real need for more information in New Zealand as to what, in human terms, apartheid actually was.

“This lack of information is partly a result of our geographic isolation, partly a result of our relative wealth, and partly a result of white racism. “The racial situation which gave rise to the Sharpeville massacre has not changed. As long as race relations in South Africa are based on the fear, intolerance and arrogance of the white community, another Sharpeville could happen at any time,” said Mr Richards. “I cannot emphasise strongly enough the need for New Zealanders to acquaint themselves fully with the effects and results of apartheid,” he said.