Norton in Congressional Delegation to South Africa to Honor Nelson Mandela
WASHINGTON, DC – Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC) will travel to South Africa as a member of the Congressional Delegation to the Nelson Mandela funeral, leaving the Rayburn Horseshoe at 4:30 a.m. Monday. The delegation will return in the evening, on Wednesday, December 10.
Norton was one of the four activists whose visit to the South African Embassy in 1984 led to serial protests and arrests at the embassy against apartheid and helped get U.S. sanctions on South Africa. In July, she read from a farewell address given by Mandela in 1998 at a ceremony led by the Republican and Democratic leadership in celebration of the life and legacy of Nelson Mandela on his 95th birthday.
"Mandela has been a freedom-defining fighter for me and others throughout the world," said Norton. "I could only imagine him before his release from Robben Island but met him when he became President of his country. Now it is time to share with South African's their farewell to Madiba, father of their country and mentor millions throughout the world."
Published: December 9, 2013