Demonstrators Call for Sanctions by U.S. : 500 at Capitol Protest South Africa’s Apartheid

More than 500 apartheid protesters peacefully circled the Capitol Wednesday night during President Reagan’s State of the Union address to appeal for racial equality in South Africa.

Wearing placards reading, “Freedom in South Africa,” and carrying flashlights, the demonstrators called on Reagan and Congress to impose sanctions against white-ruled South Africa until suppression of blacks is lifted in that country.

The “Circle of Conscience” was organized by the Rev. Walter Fauntroy, the city’s non-voting delegate to Congress, who, speaking through a bullhorn, told the crowd at the start of the solemn rally:

“Black and white, young and old, Republican and Democrat, Protestant, Catholic, Muslim and Jew--we are here to march together to free South Africa.”

Police Encircled Building

Capitol police also encircled the building, imposing tight security for the President.

Arriving legislators, members of Reagan’s Cabinet, Supreme Court justices and foreign diplomats drove past the demonstrators, who were kept on the sidewalks around the Capitol.

“This is great, this is great,” said Randall J. Washington, 25, a black architectural engineer. “Twenty years ago we marched in this country. Now we march for blacks in South Africa. This is great.”

Congressmen Participated

At least a half dozen members of Congress joined the rally, including Reps. Steny H. Hoyer (D-Md.) and Ronald V. Dellums (D-Berkeley).

Randall Robinson, national coordinator of the Free South Africa Movement and a leader of the protest, said: “Every moment we lose without American action, blacks die and suffer in South Africa.”

Since Nov. 21, the Free South Africa Movement has coordinated peaceful demonstrations at the South African Embassy in Washington as well as at South African offices in Boston, Houston, New York and Pittsburgh.

1,400 Arrested

More than 1,400 persons have been arrested on trespassing charges, about half of them in Washington. Organizers said they planned to have no arrests at the Capitol.

Their demands include:

--To South Africa, free political prisoners and create a new constitution that enfranchises the country’s black majority.

--To Reagan, replace the policy of “quiet diplomacy” toward South Africa with tough economic sanctions.

--To U.S. companies, stop doing business with South Africa.