Donald Woods

Donald Woods

Donald James Woods, CBE (15 December 1933 – 19 August 2001) was a white South African journalist and anti-apartheid activist.

As editor of the Daily Dispatch from 1965 to 1977, he befriended Steve Biko, leader of the anti-apartheid Black Consciousness Movement, and was banned by the government soon after Biko's death, which had been caused by serious head injuries, sustained while in police custody. The government denied giving Biko these injuries, even though police officers admitted to beating Biko to the point of nerve and brain damage. Woods fled to London, where he continued to foster opposition to apartheid. In 1978, he became the first private citizen to address the United Nations Security Council.

Read more about Donald Woods:  Early History, Relationship With Steve Biko, Life in Exile, Return To South Africa, Cry Freedom, Final Years, Awards, Memorials, Works

Famous quotes containing the word woods:

    The note of the white-throated sparrow, a very inspiriting but almost wiry sound, was first heard in the morning, and with this all the woods rang. This was the prevailing bird in the northern part of Maine. The forest generally was alive with them at this season, and they were proportionally numerous and musical about Bangor. They evidently breed in that State.
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