Barbara Boxer: “last week the world lost a true hero with the passing of Nelson Mandela. His determined and courageous advocacy helped…”

“last week the world lost a true hero with the passing of Nelson Mandela. His determined and courageous advocacy helped end South Africa's disgraceful system of apartheid, while his enlightened leadership set an example for national reconciliation. Apartheid was a policy of hate. It was a severe form of segregation that denied the non-White population their basic human rights. Millions of non-Whites lost their homes and were forced from their lands. In order to travel or work in a restricted White area, special passes were necessary. Non-Whites could not participate in national government and were segregated in almost every way imaginable--from education to transportation to health care. Nelson Mandela dedicated much of his life to ending this injustice. After years of protesting the harsh policies of the South African Government, he was imprisoned for 27 years--18 of which were spent at the infamous maximum security prison on Robben Island that was surrounded by shark-infested waters. There he suffered in a cell that he described as ``perpetually damp'' and only measured 7 feet by 8 feet. From prison, Nelson Mandela was an inspiration to those fighting apartheid both inside South Africa and throughout the world. And as pressure grew, the South African Government initiated secret talks with Mandela for the first time in 1986.…”