an uncommon path (mini) |
this is the mini version of my blog 'an uncommon spiritual path' - you'll find the maxi blog here www.dionforster.com |
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The purple shall govern!
No, it is not a typographical error - ‘the purple shall govern’
This memorial is placed on the corner of Burg and Church streets in Cape Town. In 1989 a group of protesters were on their way to Parliament when they were stopped by police. So they staged a sit down in the street. The police unleashed a new weapon - a water canon that contained a permanent purple dye. It stained the skin of the protesters so that they could be marked - visible to the Apartheid police. One of the protesters managed to get onto the canon, spraying the police and buildings (even the National Party headquarters!)
That week a graffiti slogan was sprayed throughout the city saying ‘The purple shall govern!’
11 days later a crowd of 30 000 persons marched unretrained through the city. In 1994 Apartheid ended in South Africa.
Let us remember and give thanks for their courage that won our freedom!
