Boycott

The Boycott Movement circulated these guidelines for setting up local organising committees for the March Boycott Month in 1960. They stressed the need to win broad support for the boycott and suggested approaching faith and women’s groups, trade unions, students and chambers of commerce. They asked supporters to talk to shoppers on the streets, not just pass resolutions.

The TUC distributed this leaflet calling on trade unionists to boycott South African goods in response to a call from the International Confederation of Free Trade Unions (ICFTU). It asked them to support the Boycott Committee’s March Month of Boycott in 1959. It held back from taking the more radical step proposed by the ICFTU of asking its affiliated unions to instruct their members not to handle products from South Africa.

The March Month of Boycott in 1960 was supported by the local Africa Councils set up by the Africa Bureau. This leaflet was distributed by Tyneside Africa Council.

The Boycott Movement produced three issues of its broadsheet, Boycott News, early in 1960. The first issue printed an appeal by ANC President Chief Albert Luthuli for a boycott of South African goods. The appeal was also signed by Peter Brown, Chairman of the South African Liberal Party and GM Naicker, President of the South African Indian Congress. The broadsheet sold over 100,000 copies.

The Boycott Movement produced three issues of its broadsheet, Boycott News, early in 1960. The second issue reported on the progress of the boycott campaign after its launch at a national conference held on 17 January 1960. It printed messages of support from Labour Party leader Hugh Gaitskell and Liberal Party leader Jo Grimond.

The Boycott Movement produced three issues of its broadsheet, Boycott News, early in 1960. The third issue was published soon after the Sharpeville massacre. It endorsed the ANC’s call for the imposition of UN economic sanctions against South Africa and reported on opinion polls showing that 25% of people in Britain boycotted South African goods during the March Month of Boycott. It announced that the Boycott Movement had reconstituted itself as the Anti-Apartheid Committee with a wide programme of anti-apartheid activity. 

This leaflet stressed that the call for a boycott of South African goods in Britain was part of an international campaign by workers all over the world.

From its foundation as the Boycott Movement in 1959, the AAM put the consumer boycott at the centre of its campaigns. It produced regular updated lists of South African brands. This leaflet was produced soon after the AAM moved to its new offices in Charlotte Street in 1964.