01:08South Africa: "Stop funding Israeli apartheid" protesters tell Obama
South Africa: "Stop funding Israeli apartheid" protesters tell Obama
Activists from the Free Palestine Organization of South Africa waved Palestine flags and plaquards urging US President Obama to 'Stop Funding Israeli Apatheid'. The protest was held in front of the University of Johannesburg following the institution's decision to award Obama with an honorary law degree. Protesters say it amounts to de facto support for US foreign policy.
Gathering near the university's Soweto Campus, protesters held signs lambasting US funding of the Israeli government and use of drone strikes. Deputy vice-chancellor of the university, Tinyiko Maluleke, said the degree being awarded to Obama is an honourary doctorate, and does not honour US policies.
Obama flew in to South Africa on Friday for the second leg of his visit to Africa, and arrives in Johannesburg on Saturday. The trip follows a stop-off in Senegal as Obama continues on his first major visit to the continent as US president.
Saturday's protest is not the first held against US foreign policy during Obama's South Africa trip. COSATU, a coalition of trade union workers, has organised protests throughout Obama's tour of the country under a campaign called "NObama". Over 1,000 people protested outside the US Embassy in Pretoria on Friday, criticising Obama's use of drone strikes and his failure to close the Guantanamo Bay military detention centre.
Obama is due to make a speech to students at the Soweto Campus, where he will also host a Young African Leaders Initiative meeting with specially invited students.
01:08South Africa: "Stop funding Israeli apartheid" protesters tell Obama
Activists from the Free Palestine Organization of South Africa waved Palestine flags and plaquards urging US President Obama to 'Stop Funding Israeli Apatheid'. The protest was held in front of the University of Johannesburg following the institution's decision to award Obama with an honorary law degree. Protesters say it amounts to de facto support for US foreign policy.
Gathering near the university's Soweto Campus, protesters held signs lambasting US funding of the Israeli government and use of drone strikes. Deputy vice-chancellor of the university, Tinyiko Maluleke, said the degree being awarded to Obama is an honourary doctorate, and does not honour US policies.
Obama flew in to South Africa on Friday for the second leg of his visit to Africa, and arrives in Johannesburg on Saturday. The trip follows a stop-off in Senegal as Obama continues on his first major visit to the continent as US president.
Saturday's protest is not the first held against US foreign policy during Obama's South Africa trip. COSATU, a coalition of trade union workers, has organised protests throughout Obama's tour of the country under a campaign called "NObama". Over 1,000 people protested outside the US Embassy in Pretoria on Friday, criticising Obama's use of drone strikes and his failure to close the Guantanamo Bay military detention centre.
Obama is due to make a speech to students at the Soweto Campus, where he will also host a Young African Leaders Initiative meeting with specially invited students.