Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: MONDAY, May 14, 1990                   TAG: 9005140063
SECTION: VIRGINIA                    PAGE: A3   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: Associated Press
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Medium

WILDER DEFENDS DIVESTITURE CALL

"There was no criticism from the black community," Wilder said after Saturday's commencement speech at Norfolk State University, where he called on state agencies and institutions to get rid of investments in companies with substantial ties to South Africa.

"There have been no black leaders that have said those things . . . This is in response to nothing. I don't let anyone trigger how I act," Wilder said.

Wilder chose historically black Norfolk State for the speech. The school will not be affected by Wilder's call, as it divested stocks with ties to the apartheid regime several years ago, Gerald D. Tyler a school spokesman said.

Charles E. Jones, as associated professor of political science at Old Dominion University, was among a group of black scholars at an Atlanta convention in March who criticized Wilder for emphasizing fiscal conservatism while short-changing social issues.

"At the time, he was not speaking on issues of concern to African-Americans," Jones said. "This is one of the things he did not do and I'm very pleased he's taking this step. I would hope and expect more progressive actions."

University of Virginia political scientist Larry Sabato called Wilder's initiative "an attempt to mollify his liberal and black constituencies, which were becoming distressed with the Wilder administration."

"There's been a lot of private grumbling," Sabato said.

Now Wilder may come under fire from moderates and conservatives: "People who warned during the campaign that he is a capital `L' liberal will say, `Aha! the real Doug Wilder is starting to emerge,"' Sabato said.

Randall Robinson, executive director of the black American lobby TransAfrica, said Wilder's statement "raises the profile again for this issue at a time when many Americans have been led to believe that important change has occurred in South Africa."

"In fact, it has not," Robinson said. "More pressure is required."

Virginia is late joining the anti-apartheid camp: A study by the National Conference of State Legislatures found three years ago that 19 states already had statutory restrictions on South African economic interests. Many have added them since.

By not saying how fast the state must rid itself of economic involvement in South Africa, Wilder may have blunted the biggest potential criticism of the move.

The immediate disposal of more than a half billion dollars in investments - especially in the current sluggish economy - could have caused huge losses and provided a rallying point for opponents, observers said.

"It could be a costly process, depending on how they handle it," said Sen. Hunter Andrews, D-Hampton, a conservative who frequently spars with Wilder.

Wilder spokeswoman Laura Dillard said the governor hopes the process will be complete when he leaves office in 1994 but knows it may not.

"The important thing is to get this ball rolling," she said. "Clearly, it'll take some time."

Dillard said there is no exact accounting of the amount state entities have invested in companies doing business in South Africa. She estimated the sum might approach $1 billion.