Defiance Campaign

The Defiance Campaign ( official name: Defiance Campaign against unjust laws, German about: disregard campaign against unfair laws) was an act of civil disobedience opposition groups against apartheid in South Africa in the years 1952 and 1953.

History

1948, the National Party won the elections of the white population, and then exacerbated by a number of new laws, racial segregation. Non- white South Africans found themselves severely restricted in their rights. Opposition groups reacted with protests and boycotts. From 15 to 17 December 1951, delegations gathered by the African National Congress ( ANC) and South African Indian Congress in Bloemfontein and adopted a plan for the implementation of the Defiance Campaign. In it they demanded equal rights for all South Africans, regardless of skin color, so that South Africa may be spared of social chaos and tyranny. It was pointed out that the campaign was not directed against the white South Africans, but disadvantaged against the unfair laws that large parts of the population. Was to restore human dignity, equality and freedom of all South Africans destination. The end of December and the Franchise Action Council ( FRAC ) was added to the Alliance, a representation of Coloureds. Even some whites took part in the actions. As an example of non-violent protest actions Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi in India served. As a volunteer - in -chief of the future president Nelson Mandela organized the campaign.

On April 6, 1952 the 300th anniversary of the arrival of white settlers in South Africa, demonstrations in favor of the Defiance Campaign was organized, which began on June 26th of the year. The participants of the campaign violated deliberately against apartheid laws, such as the prohibition of the use of facilities for whites and the duty to carry passports. The idea was to let himself be arrested for trespassing the law, the prisons are full to leave and thus paralyze the judiciary. Around 8500 participants of the Defiance Campaign were arrested, among them Nelson Mandela, Walter Sisulu and Yusuf Dadoo, who were accused under the Suppression of Communism Act of treason. As of October 1952, there were individual violent unrest. Albert John Luthuli, the former ANC chairman, was banned. In January 1953, the campaign officially ended. The highest-ranking defendants were sentenced to probation. In April of the same year adopted the Criminal Law Amendment Act and the Public Safety Act other laws that should prevent future similar actions, such as by facilitating the proclamation of emergency.

The Defiance Campaign was the first nationally organized nonviolent action against the apartheid system.

Follow

Through the Defiance Campaign, the membership of the ANC increased from a few thousand to around 100,000. However, the actions did not lead to a change in the apartheid laws. Nevertheless, the resistance against apartheid was at first largely non-violent. The following major actions were the signing of the Freedom Charter in 1955 and the demonstration of 20,000 women against the pass laws in August 1956.

Nelson Mandela led to the protests began, the ANC Youth League. He could prove his leadership qualities in the campaign and in 1952 was elected chairman of the ANC in the Transvaal and deputy ANC president.