The Black Sash (originally called the Women's Defence of the Constitution League) was founded in 1955 as an organization of white women to promote respect for the constitution and protest the loss of voting rights for Coloureds. Members would stand silently in public places wearing a black sash as a symbol of mourning for the government’s disregard for the constitution. The Black Sash established Advice Offices in urban centers to assist Africans with many issues, particularly the pass laws. Black Sash members also became involved in protesting forced removals, monitoring pass courts, and being a presence at political funerals in the 1980s. In post-apartheid South Africa, the Black Sash continues to provide free paralegal advice and also conducts monitoring, research, educational programs, and campaigns about human rights issues.
Web Documents
Magazine Article: "The Story of the Women's Defence of the Constitution League", The Black Sash