Congresswoman Waters Commemorates 21st Anniversary of Mandela's Release from Prison

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PRESS RELEASE

February 11, 2011

Contact: Bartlett

For Immediate Release

Phone: (202) 225-2201

Congresswoman Waters Commemorates 21st Anniversary of Mandela's Release

from Prison

Washington - Congresswoman Maxine Waters (D-Calif.) issued the following

statement today, commemorating the 21st anniversary of Mandela's release

from Victor Verster Prison in South Africa:

" I'll never forget February 11, 1990, the day that Mandela walked out of

the darkness of an unjust 27 year prison sentence, and into the light of a life

with much more to accomplish for a nation on the verge of historic change.

" Truly transformational figures that have altered a nation, indeed the world,

with their ideals, their determination, and their basic existence, are very

rare. But captivated the world through his struggles for freedom,

equality, and justice for black South Africans at a time when they were, at

best, second class citizens.

" Over the years, I've had the distinct honor and privilege to know him and call

him my friend: in 1990, I chaired the welcome committee for the Los Angeles stop

on his eight-city U.S. tour, and helped organize a concert and rally attended by

90,000 people; the next year, I traveled to Durban to attend the first ANC

conference since his release from prison; in 1994, I traveled with the official

American delegation to attend the inauguration of Mandela as President of

the Republic of South Africa; and in 1998, I was pleased to welcome President

Mandela to the United States once again, this time to receive the Congressional

Gold Medal.

" President Mandela is an inspiration to millions of people in South Africa and

around the world, and on this anniversary we honor him and the many South

Africans who put their lives on the line by confronting racism and

discrimination head-on.

" Each day I leave my office, I glance at my framed copy of the 1994 South

African presidential ballot. It gives me hope for the future, because it

demonstrates that the repressed will persevere, that the downtrodden will stand

up, and that the voiceless will be heard.

" I send my very best to President Mandela and his family on this anniversary and

always. "

###

Among her many achievements as a State Assemblywoman from 1977-1991, Waters was

responsible for A.B. 134, legislation that allowed California to divest $12

billion in state pension funds tied to the Apartheid regime in South Africa. She

was also Los Angeles Chair of the Free South Africa Movement.

In 2008, Waters received the Republic of South Africa's 'Order of the Companions

of O.R. Tambo Silver Award', for " dedicating her life to the upliftment of the

poor and her outstanding contribution to the struggle against Apartheid and the

attainment of a democratic, non-racial and a non-sexist South Africa.

Kathleen Sengstock

Senior Legislative Assistant

Rep. Maxine Waters

(202) 225-2201

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