ALEXANDER DEFENCE COMMITTEE DEMONSTRATES IN TRAFALGAR-SQUARE
By Alan Adair
LONDON, Feb. 27 -- Members of the British Alexander Defence Committee carried placards in Trafalgar Square opposite South Africa House last night. Their slogans read: "Free the Alexander Eleven," "Free Sobukwe, Mandela, Niar, Alexander, Harris, Kitson," "Free All Political Prisoners, t trabour <= Help South African Militants, " "Dockers -- Boycott South African Boats," "No Arms for Verwoerd,!
The demonstration took place as thousands of workers passed through Trafalgar Square on their way from the job. The purpose was to help publicize the appeal of Dr. Neville Alexander and ten other nonwhite South African militants given prison terms up to ten years for allegedly planning to commit acts of "sabotage."
Following the demonstration, a public meeting was held. Speakers included Stan Newens, a newly elected Labour member of parlia-# ment; V. Pillay, vice-chairman of Anti-Apartheid; N. Nkoana, chief representative in Europe for the Pan-African Congress; J. Kozonguizi, representing the South West African National Union and F. Landman on behalf of the South African Coloured Peoples Congress, —
All.the speakers, some of whom knew Neville Alexander in South Africa, expressed great respect for his ideas and the part he and his friends had played in the struggle against apartheid. They spoke with deep feeling of the difficulties facing free dom fighters in South : Africa,
N. Nkoana said that fifty leading members of his organisation have been hanged over the past months,
J. Kozonguizi identified himself with Alexander because "Alex= ander struggled for socialism" and because he tried to educate a cadre capable of leading the masses into a serious and planned strug-
gle against the Verwoerd government. He ended on the theme that “no court in the world will decide the fate of the African revolution."
The secretary of the British Alexander Defence Committee, Connie Kirkby, outlined the activities of the committee since it was formed five months ago. She pointed out that through donations, collections, and social activities some £500 had been raised to help pay the costs of the appeal. She explained that this work had not only helped the Alexander Eleven but had assisted in the general campaign against apartheid.
She urged the audience to think of the families of the defendants, who are in dire need of financial help.
"Technically, they are not in prison, but is there really that much difference in South Africa from being inside or outside of jail -- isn't it all one big concentration camp?'t she asked,
The meeting ended by passing a resolution which urged the Parliamentary Labour party to initiate a campaign for the release of all South African political prisoners. . .