GA/AP/792, 16 February 1978
The Chairman of the Special Committee against Apartheid, Leslie O. Harriman (Nigeria), today issued the following statement:
I am deeply shocked at the violent assault on 14 February by racist gangsters against Richard Lapchick for his campaign against the Davis Cup tennis match between the United States and South Africa next month.
This incident, I am sure, will only reinforce the determination of opponents of racism to destroy apartheid, which continues to encourage racist bigotry in Western countries.
On behalf of the Special Committee, I extend my sympathy to Dr. Lapchick, Chairman of the American Co-ordinating Committee for Equality in Sport and Society, Norfolk, Virginia, who has made a valuable contribution to the struggle against apartheid in sport. I would assure him that the Special Committee will do all in its power to ensure the total exclusion of racist South African sports teams from all international competitions.