Civil Protest Is a Powerful Tool

Johannesburg, South Africa. Walking through the chilling and stunningly impressive Apartheid Museum here today I was reminded just how powerful civil protest can be. As more and more people gather in Crawford to show support, we do not need a better example for those who scoff at Cindy Sheehan and mock her actions.

Getting to South Africa was harder than I expected due to another act of civil protest, a 24-hour, impromptu strike by workers at Heathrow airport in support of fellow workers fired unceremoniously by (the US-owned) Gate Gourmet. As a result around 100,000 travelers were disrupted, hundreds of flights were cancelled and British Airways (in this case not really the culprit) lost tens of millions of dollars.

I mention the British Airways action because what I learned today from the Apartheid Museum was that where the Soweto riots of 1976 failed to overthrow the system of apartheid, the carefully planned actions of the (finally permitted) unions and civil protest through grassroots organizations in townships in the 1980s did eventually succeed.

Cindy Sheehan’s action is far more than an outburst by a grieving and emotional mother (though there is plenty of power and plenty to admire in that). Her action is far more than one person’s anti-war, anti-Bush protest. This action is far more than liberal posturing. This action is grabbing attention because when there is wrong and injustice and senseless violence and death in the world, the desire for human dignity will prevail.

The need for human dignity is a force to be reckoned with. If our leaders or others think otherwise, they should take a look at some of the footage of P.W. Botha, the former South African leader who believed his government was not only right, but that they were democratically elected. He believed they were invincible and did not listen to those who opposed them. His successor, F.W de Klerk, did listen, freed Nelson Mandela and opened the floodgates of change in South Africa. They subsequently shared the Nobel Peace Prize.

It is always a good idea to listen to those who disagree.