In the midst of anti-racism protests sparked by the death of George Floyd, the American Bar Association has drawn fierce criticism over its announcement that former president FW de Klerk will speak about "rule of law, constitutional democracy, minority rights, social change, racism and global security" at its upcoming 2020 Virtual Annual Meeting.
Among those who have appealed to the ABA - which describes itself as "the largest voluntary association of lawyers in the world" - to reconsider its choice of De Klerk as a speaker are Lukhanyo Calata, the son of slain anti-apartheid activist Fort Calata, former Truth and Reconciliation Commissioner Dumisa Ntzebeza, and Howard Varney, who worked closely with the TRC.
The Pan African Bar Association of South Africa (PABASA), which recently expressed its outrage over "the brutal murder of George Floyd", has also condemned the ABA for providing De Klerk with a platform to speak on racism.
'Failure to take responsibility for apartheid'
In a press release about De Klerk's upcoming speech at its "empowerment"-themed conference, the ABA describes the former president as having "negotiated with Nelson Mandela to bring the apartheid system of racial segregation to an end, ushering in majority rule".
Lukhanyo Calata has directly appealed to the ABA to reconsider its decision to invite De Klerk, who he maintains was complicit in the 27 June 1985 state-sanctioned murders of his father and fellow teachers Matthew Goniwe, Sicelo Mhlauli and Sparro Mkonto.
