UUA Opposition to Apartheid
1985 Business Resolution
WHEREAS, both the Unitarian and Universalist denominations have long traditions of working to oppose racism and support civil rights and justice; andWHEREAS, the Unitarian Universalist Association is committed to affirm and promote the inherent worth and dignity of every person; and
WHEREAS, apartheid remains the world's most visible and offensive form of racism; and
WHEREAS, the recent protests and acts of civil disobedience initiated and coordinated by the Free South Africa Movement, a black lobbying group, have resulted in the arrest of thousands of students as well as many clergy, public officials and other persons and have caused many religious, civil rights and peace organizations to give anti-apartheid work higher priority; and
WHEREAS, economic sanctions including primary and secondary boycotts, have proven effective in other nonviolent movements for justice and social change;
BE IT RESOLVED: That the 1985 General Assembly commends the action of the Board of Trustees in voting for complete divestiture of securities invested in corporations doing business in South Africa; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED: That this Assembly encourages member congregations and individual Unitarian Universalists to conduct an audit of all investments under their control, and all financial institutions with which they do business, employing resources such as the Interfaith Center for Corporate Responsibility (ICCR) and others generally available in the public domain; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED: That member congregations be encouraged to divest their portfolios within two years of any investments in corporations which have investments in South Africa and which are not signatories to the Sullivan principles; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED: That this Assembly urges the Social Responsibility Section to work with anti-apartheid networks in assisting member congregations and individual Unitarian Universalists who may wish to participate more fully in the campaign against apartheid and further that space be made available in the UU WORLD to publish news of activities and action opportunities.
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Last updated on Wednesday, August 24, 2011.
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