Column: Fubler On Emancipation & More
[Opinion column written by Glenn Fubler]
The 190th anniversary of Emancipation offered an opportunity to promote cross-generational connections. The liberation of thousands of enslaved people was the result of a significant movement of many diverse people in various countries, across generations. The passing of the torch of freedom, transcended boundaries; so that the Haitian success over Napolean’s troops in 1804 proved key in the passage of the Bill for Emancipation at Westminster in 1833.
The legacy of the sustained effort to bring about that paradigm shift was a classic example of global solidarity.
Intending to sustain the inter-generational relay, during my presentation celebrating the 190th anniversary of Emancipation, I spoke to the exemplary activism of Aaron Crichlow, co-founder of Bermuda is Love.
August 8, 1970 is a lesser-known milestone offering some pointers for subsequent generations. Its legacy provides some foundational elements, sustaining current efforts like those of Bermuda is Love.
On that mid-summer Saturday, 20-year-old me joined six other members of the Black Beret Cadre canvassing Nellie’s Walk, distributing leaflets protesting the newly-elected U.K. Government. That Conservative Cabinet had published their intention to ignore United Nations’ sanctions by selling weapons to the apartheid regime of South Africa.
The leaflets explained that the U.N. General Assembly had voted to ban sales of military equipment to the apartheid regime on the documented evidence that South African soldiers had shot in the back and killed 78 peaceful protestors in the town of Sharpeville in 1959. The protestors made the case that the UK Government’s intended violation of the U.N. blatantly supported apartheid. The protest concluded with the incineration of a Union Jack flag.
While the Beret’s founder – Hilton Bassett – was charged and imprisoned for the flag burning, some weeks following the protest, he was subsequently released from imprisonment on appeal.
Bermuda is Love demonstrates parallels with groups such as the Berets. Their agenda includes wonderfully engaging activities, such as their community garden projects promoting food security. The Berets engaged the North Hamilton neighbourhood with a liberation school, promoting social consciousness amongst children.
While the Berets were the only group in 1970s to challenge UK support for apartheid South Africa, during the 1980s, that legacy of 1970 led to the development of a globally recognized island-wide anti-apartheid movement.
Bermuda is Love is currently engaged in a community-wide collaboration supporting efforts toward ending the current apartheid being expressed in the genocide in Gaza. Key in this regard is ending the weapons supply by the UK and the U.S. for the unbridled Israeli military action, which makes Sharpeville look like a Sunday school picnic.
In recognition of these links – in the names of all the Berets involved in the August 8, 1970 protest – and in the spirit of fostering those cross-generational bridges to promote solidarity at home and abroad, I passed forward the recognition of The Bermudian’s’ Best of Bermuda – Community Activist 2023 to Aaron Crichlow.
- Glenn Fubler
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