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US Govt. Slammed for Its Position on Anti-Racism Conference
Civil rights activists from the United States on Monday strongly criticized the US administration's decision not to attend the United Nations World Conference Against Racism to be held in Durban from August 31 to September 7.
A top level delegation comprising about 50 members of the Black Leadership Forum in America arrived in Durban on Monday to attend the African Renaissance Forum prior to the opening of the anti- racism conference on August 31.
Veteran civil rights activist Reverend James Orange told journalists that "This conference is where our voice will be heard. We want to discuss the issue of reparations for those of us who left Africa as slaves and still suffer the legacy."
The U.S. government has threatened not to attend the conference if Zionism was equated with racism and reparations for slavery were not removed from the agenda.
Diplomats were reportedly still pondering at what level, if at all, the U.S. would be represented.
The U.S. delegation's leader Yvonne Scruggs-Leftwich said the American people were embarrassed by the "irresponsible behavior of
the government", saying that regardless of the Bush administration 's attendance the country would still be represented.
The Black Leadership is a 23-year-old confederation of U.S. civil rights organizations.
The delegation includes Reverend Jesse Jackson, former U.S. ambassador to the UN Andrew Young and the forum's leader Joseph Lowery.
They will join President Thabo Mbeki on September 1 in leading the global march against racism which was organized by the African National Congress and its alliance partners.
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