SQ5M57 CONGRESS OF THE PEOPLE, 1955.

organisations that espouse the will of the people. Instead the spirit of resistance continues*

Repeatedly the racist rulers have tried to convince ua

that they have destroyed our organisation, the AHC and our anny Unkhonto we Si2we. Instead during the funeral of our leader, Lilian Ngoyi, we demonstrated our support for our organisation by hoisting the people * a' flag - Black for ua the black people

of this country. Green for the agricultural wealth And Cold for the mineral wealth* We hava seen the courage and He termination of our heroes in the persons of Solomon Mahlangu* the Silveiv

ton group and the Xaritzburg Twelve which included James Kange.

The superiority of our a m y in tactics has been demonstrated in the attack of the symbols of oppression and repression • the police stations* Vts have in mind Morok**, Orlando, Sookmekaar and Booysens police stations. It is bettor that the racist regime take heed of what their then Minister of Justice, Jinny Rruger, said when he stated that:- "It is not possible to des- troy the AKC but to contain it". Although even tc contain it will become more difficult because the people will see to it

that our Instrument of change and freedom should never be con- tained. Our organisation, the African Rational Congress, is the main generator of the crisis of the Pretoria regime."

We are clear that the solutions to the problems of our country will be solved by the ASC led by our authentic lead- ers like Tambo, Mandela, Siaulu and WbeJd., That is why we are

demanding and will continue to demand the rolease of our lead- ers from Robben Island. That is why we are prepared to sup- port the Free Kaidela Campaign and call on more of our people

to expre&s themselves* In- this way we are clearly demonstra- ting who are. our true leaders and which is our organisation*

•

SQ5M57 CONGRESS OF THE PEOPLE, 1955.

CALL TO THE CONGRESS

•

• Leaflet issued by the Xational Action Council of the Congress of the People, The idea for the Congress of the peo- ple had been proposed by the vereran AUC leader Prof, Z.K..

Matthews and sponsored by the ANC, SAIC, COL and Coloured Peo- p l e ' s Organisation. The national Action Council was conposed

of eight Members from each organisation and was responsible

for producing and distributing t h i s call in sereral languages.

WE CALL THE PEOPLE OF SOUTH AFRICA BLACK AND

WHITE. LET US SPEAK TOGETHER OF FREEDOM!

WE CALL THE FARMERS OF THE RESERVES AND TRUSTLANDS.

Let na aoeek of the vide lano, and the narrow strips on vhloh we t o i i .

1 s t as speak of brothers without lead, and of children with- out schooling.

Let ue speak of taxes and of c a t t l e , and of faalne.

LET I!S SPEAK OP 1HKSCH

WE CALL THE MINERS Of COAUQOLD AND DIAMONDS

Let us speak of the dark shafts, and the cold co&youuds far from our f aid l i e s .

Let us speak of heavy labour end lone hours, and of sen sent heme t o d i e .

Let us speak of rloh vaaters and poor vagea.

LET US SPEAK On jraffi&Cfi.

WE CALL THE WORKERS OP FARMS AND FORESTS

Let us apeak of the rich foods u * gros, and the laws that kc-ep us poor.

Let us speak of harsh treatment and of children and vonen foroed to work.

Let us speak of private prisons, and fooatlcas end of ptoses.

LET S3 3HSAE OF BSflBQH.

WE CALL THE WORKERS OF FACTORIES AND SHOPS

Let us spvak cf toe good thing* we xako, ar^d t-m had conditions of our work.

Let us speak of the nary parses and the few Jobs.

Let ua apart cf foreasn and of trar-eport and of trade unions}

of holidays and cf houses.

LET US SPitfk 0* PHEEMK.

WE CAU THE TEAO€RS,STUOBnS AND THE PREACHERS

Let ua speak of the light that cones with learning, and the ways we ore kept in darkneas.

Let ue speak of great services we oen rerder, and of the narrow ways that are open to u s .

Let us spaas, of laws, and govennsnt, and rights.

LEE V8 SPfcAT OP JSBEDOK.

14

WE CALL THE HOUSEWIVES AND THE MOTHERS

Let VB apeak of the fine children -that wa Lear, and of their etunted lives.

Let us speak of the many illnesses and deaths, and of the few clinics and schools. .,

Let us apeak of high prices and of. shanty towns, LET US SPEAK OF FHEEDOM.

*

ALL 0? US TOGETHER - African and European, Indian and Coloured*

Voter and voteless. Privileged and rightleas. The happy and

the homeless. All the people of South Africa; of the towns and the countryside.

LBT US SPEAK TOGETHER OF FREKDOM. And of the happineaa that can cone to men and women if they live In a land that la

•

IE? US SPEAE TOGETHER OP FREEDOM* And of hov to get it fox ourselves, and for our children.

LET THE VOICE OF ATX THE PEOPLE EE BEARD. AED LET THE D31&HES OF AIL TEE PECfiLE FOR THE THINGS THAT WILL MAKE US FREE BE

RECORDED. LET -JSE WHAHDS BE GATHRRED TOGETHER IN A (SEAT CHARTER OP FREEDOM.

WE CALL 08 ALL GOOD MEH AND TRUE, tc apeak now of freodom, and to-write their own demands into the Charter of Free- doe.

WE CALL ALL WHO LOVE LIBERTY to pledge their U v e a

from here on to win the Freedoms aet out In the Charteo.

WE! CALL ALL TEE PEOPLE OP SntfCH AFRICA TC PREPARE FORt

THE CONGRESS OF THE PEOPLE - Where

representatives of the people, everywhere In the land, will meet together in a great assem- bly, to discuss and adopt the Charter of Free-

dom*

t

.

organise together for the Congress of the People*

apeak together of Freedom,

work together for the Freedom Charter*

U f US GO FORWARD T X3ETHER TO FW DOM!