The Right2Know Campaign and the South African National Editors' Forum (SANEF) are calling on all citizens to unite in the fight against the passing of controversial Protection of (State) Information Bill (POIB aka 'Secrecy Bill') in its current format, which is due to be voted on at 2pm in the National Assembly in Parliament tomorrow, Tuesday, 22 November 2011. Apart from the call to dress in black or wear a black ribbon or an armband - initiated by the National Press Club on the weekend - all citizens are encouraged to protest in person at the six Right2Know pickets that will be happening across the country, as well as to make their voices heard via social media such as Twitter and Facebook. Citizens are also encouraged to go attend Parliament tomorrow, as any member of the public may attend any plenary sitting of Parliament, by arriving at the Visitors' Centre with his or her ID or driver's licence - seats are given on a first-come, first-served basis. SANEF is also mobilising all editors who are able to be in Parliament to attend, and SANEF chair Mondli Makhanya will be addressing the media outside Parliament before and after the voting The voting was originally supposed to be on Wednesday this week, hence the campaign moniker "Black Wednesday", a direct reference to the Black Wednesday of 19 October 1977, which saw the apartheid regime ban The World and Weekend World newspapers and Pro Veritate (a Christian publication), alongside 19 black organisations and detain scores of critics. On the weekend, though, the voting was moved back by one day to Tuesday, apparently in an attempt by the ruling party, the ANC, to avoid such connotations, so it has now become Black Tuesday. However, this has still incensed the ANC, according to various media reports (see News24, Business Day, IOL and Eyewitness News): "The only result this unfortunate comparison and the planned campaign, in which people are urged to dress in black, will achieve is to dilute the real history of Black Wednesday and insult the victims of apartheid's barbaric laws," ANC chief whip Mathole Motshekga has been quoted as saying today. Bizcommunity.com fully supports this campaign and will also be 'dressing' in black tomorrow. Aluta continua! Simone Puterman (@SimoneBiz) Managing editor
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