WASHINGTON, D.C. — Lex Libertas, a South African Afrikaner advocacy organization, is preparing to plant 3,000 white crosses on the US National Mall to memorialize victims of farm attacks in South Africa. Ernst Roets, the executive director of Lex Libertas, announced the high-profile initiative, which aims to draw international attention to rural violence, race laws, and property rights issues in the country.
The crosses will be installed on the prominent lawn situated between the Washington Monument and the White House. According to Roets, each cross will bear the name of an individual who has been murdered on farms in South Africa, serving as a stark visual reminder of the ongoing crisis.
The announcement comes as Lex Libertas publicly welcomed recent targeted US visa restrictions on South Africa, viewing them as a step toward greater international accountability.
This memorial installation is part of a broader series of advocacy efforts in the US capital. On September 25, the organization will host a major conference in Washington featuring various experts from South Africa. The event is scheduled to address critical and contentious issues, including the incitement of violence, farm attacks, race-based legislation, and threats to property rights. To provide a human perspective on the crisis, three survivors of farm attacks will attend the conference to share their personal testimonies with attendees.
In conjunction with the memorial and the conference, Lex Libertas is releasing a documentary film to further amplify its message. Roets emphasized that the organization is actively encouraging US lawmakers to convene public congressional hearings on South Africa.
Over the coming weeks, Lex Libertas plans to aggressively reach out to politicians, media outlets, think tanks, and activists to build momentum for their cause. Roets noted that the organization has a “very big, important few weeks ahead” as they seek to elevate the discourse surrounding South African farm violence on the global stage.
