Shadow Foreign Secretary blasted after claiming anti-apartheid hero would have condemned student pro-Gaza campus protests, as Mandela’s grandson calls for students worldwide to join protests
Zwelivelile Mandela, Nelson Mandela’s grandson, has reacted with outrage to comments by David Lammy, Keir Starmer’s Shadow Foreign Secretary, suggesting that Nelson Mandela would have opposed the campus protest movement of students opposing Israel’s genocide in Gaza.
Lammy, like his boss, has consistently provided political cover for apartheid Israel’s racist mass murder of tens of thousands of Palestinian civilians, overwhelmingly women and children.
Zwelivelile responded to Lammy’s comments by describing Lammy as an “apologist for genocide” and calling on students worldwide to join the protests:
We call on students all over the world to emulate the student protest encampments on USA University Campuses.
[Friday, 10th May 2024] marks 30 years since the inauguration of President Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela on the 10th May 1994. I dedicate the memory of this day to the students protesting on USA University campuses calling for an immediate ceasefire of the genocide of Gaza and supporting the struggle of the Palestinian people for freedom.
We recall Madiba’s historic words on this day when he said: “We dedicate this day to all the heroes and heroines in this country and the rest of the world who sacrificed in many ways and surrendered their lives so that we could be free.”
Contrary to what David Lammy, the Labour MP in the UK would like us to believe, Madiba acknowledged the heroes in the Civil Rights Movement in the USA and campuses all over the world who regularly protested for our freedom.
He himself was of that generation of South African youth who called for the armed struggle in the face of increasing state brutality in dealing with peaceful protest against Apartheid.
The youth on USA campuses are emulating and following in the brave footsteps of the youth of 1968 who came out openly protesting against the war in Vietnam.
On countless occasions acknowledged the role of the student protests of 1976 Soweto Uprising for playing a seminal role in our march to freedom.
From his prison cell he echoed the call to the students of the 1980s to make South Africa ungovernable.
David Lammy mustn’t be an apologist for Apartheid Israel and for the ongoing genocide in Gaza. He must echo President Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela’s commitment to the Palestinian struggle which he affirmed during his visit to Gaza in 1995 when he said: ” Our freedom is incomplete without the freedom of the Palestinian people.”
We call on David Lammy to stop being an apologist for genocide and instead encourage all students on UK and European university campuses to emulate their fellow students in the USA in their call for a ceasefire in Gaza and support the struggle of the Palestinian people for freedom.
Youth are the conscience of our world and their voices are the moral compass that guide us to a better future. Rather than brutalize them and criminalize their protest actions, we must encourage them to continue to stand for justice, human rights and dignity for all humanity. You are our heroes, we salute you.
Zwelivelile is right. Lammy could not be more wrong. Free Palestine.
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