Walter Edward Fauntroy

Walter Fauntroy helped plan the November 21, 1984, sit-in at South Africa's embassy in Washington and was arrested with Randall Robinson and Mary Frances Berry. In an interview three weeks later, he explained why they had turned to direct action: attempts to change the Reagan administration's policy through Congress had failed, and Reagan's reelection made another approach necessary. He wanted protests to build pressure for dismantling apartheid and changing American policy. ¹

Fauntroy's organizing grew from his work as a Washington pastor and civil rights campaigner. After studying at Virginia Union University and Yale Divinity School, he became pastor of New Bethel Baptist Church in 1959. He directed the Southern Christian Leadership Conference's Washington bureau before winning election as the District of Columbia's congressional delegate in 1971. ²

His South Africa campaign continued beyond the embassy arrests. In January 1986, he joined a congressional delegation to South Africa and supported stronger American sanctions. Congress enacted sanctions over President Reagan's veto later that year. Fauntroy remained the District's delegate until January 1991. ²