Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: THURSDAY, June 28, 1990 TAG: 9006280716
SECTION: NATIONAL/INTERNATIONAL PAGE: A/6 EDITION: EVENING
SOURCE: Associated Press
DATELINE: MIAMI BEACH, FLA. LENGTH: Medium
Mandela, who earlier Wednesday laid a wreath at the grave of Martin Luther King Jr. in Atlanta, arrived at Miami's airport just before midnight to none of the fanfare with which he was met in the four other U.S. cities he has visited.
"We do feel somewhat embarrassed," Gerald McEntee, president of the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees, said after welcoming Mandela. "Embarrassed for the state of Florida and embarrassed for Dade County."
A crowd of about 200 people who greeted Mandela outside his hotel early today chanted "Free South Africa" and then "Free South Florida" and finally "Where is Suarez?" - a reference to Miami Mayor Xavier Suarez, who denounced Mandela for his support of Castro.
"We're here to show him our love and appreciation," said Doris Dorcilini. "We're unhappy that our local politicians are not doing the same. We're going to remember this when they need us."
Mandela, 71, was scheduled to speak today to the municipal employees' convention. The 1.25 million-member union has been a strong supporter of Mandela's African National Congress. He planned to go to Detroit later in the day.
In Miami Beach, police put 130 officers on duty at the convention center because of expected demonstrations by opponents of Mandela and blacks upset at the cold shoulder given him.
After Mandela last week reaffirmed his support for Castro, the Miami City Commission, with three Cuban-American members, dropped plans for a welcome proclamation. Five Cuban-American mayors issued a statement condemning his support for Castro.
Mayor Alex Daoud of this largely Jewish city criticized Mandela for supporting not only Castro but the Palestine Liberation Organization and Libyan leader Moammar Gadhafi.
Leaders of Miami's black community, wracked by racial violence four times in the past decade, pledged to avenge the slight to Mandela.
"He is our brother," said Johnnie McMillian, president of Miami's NAACP chapter. "If they say he's not welcome, they're saying we're not welcome, too."
In an often-moving visit to Atlanta on Wednesday, Mandela paid silent tribute to the slain leader of the U.S. civil rights movement, then borrowed from King's "I Have a Dream" speech at a sold-out rally at 46,000-seat Grant Field.
"His dreams are certainly going to see the light of day in our country," Mandela said. "Let freedom ring in South Africa! We will continue to struggle until we have transformed South Africa into a united, non-racial, non-sexist, democratic country."
Although King espoused non-violence, several prominent civil rights leaders defended Mandela's refusal to renounce force in the struggle for racial equality in South Africa.
"We who are thoroughly committed to the advocacy of non-violence nonetheless respect the right of oppressed people everywhere to seek their own liberation," the Rev. Joseph Lowery, president of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference that King founded, said during a gathering at Big Bethel AME Church.
"Rev. Lowery has spoken for all of us and he spoke well," King's widow, Coretta Scott King, said to Mandela. "We support you; we love you; we revere you."
Mandela said black South Africans face a different battle than the one King led.
"Unlike you, we are still under the grip of white supremacy," Mandela said. To reporters he added: "Non-violence is a good policy when conditions permit."
by CNB