
                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: MONDAY, May 14, 1990                   TAG: 9005140307
SECTION: VIRGINIA                    PAGE: A3   EDITION: EVENING 
SOURCE: Associated Press
DATELINE: NORFOLK                                LENGTH: Short

WILDER'S ANTI-APARTHEID DEMAND DRAWS FIRE

Gov. Douglas Wilder's demand that state agencies and institutions get rid of investments in companies doing business with South Africa may give conservative critics new ammunition, a political analyst says.

Wilder issued the anti-apartheid directive during a commencement address Saturday at Norfolk State University.

University of Virginia political scientist Larry Sabato characterized Wilder's move as "an attempt to mollify his liberal and black constituencies, which were becoming distressed with the Wilder administration."

"There's been a lot of private grumbling," Sabato said.

Now Wilder may come under fire from moderates and conservatives, he added.

"People who warned during the campaign that he is a capital `L' liberal will say, `Aha! The real Doug Wilder is starting to emerge,' " Sabato said.

Wilder said he had heard no criticism from blacks, and he was not trying to appease anyone.

"This is in response to nothing," he said. "I don't let anyone trigger how I act."

Wilder did not say how quickly the state must rid itself of the investments, which spokeswoman Laura Dillard said might approach $1 billion, but hopes it will occur by 1994.

Norfolk State will not be affected by Wilder's call. The historically black school divested stocks with ties to the apartheid regime several years ago, a school spokesman said.

by CNB