Free Mandela

This multilingual leaflet publicised the rally in Hyde Park held on 17 July 1988, the eve of Mandela’s 70th birthday, as the culmination of the ‘Nelson Mandela Freedom at 70’ campaign. It was produced by the AAM Women’s Committee. The rally was attended by around 250,000 people.

Programme for the rally in Hyde Park held on 17 July 1988, the eve of Mandela’s 70th birthday, as the culmination of the ‘Nelson Mandela Freedom at 70’ campaign. The main speakers were Archbishop Desmond Tutu, AAM President Archbishop Trevor Huddleston, SWAPO leader Andimba Toivo ja Toivo, Sir Richard Attenborough and ANC representative Mendi Msimang. There was music from Jonas Gwangwa and a video message from Winnie Mandela. A quarter of a million people attended the rally.

The rock group Simple Minds perform for the 250,000-strong crowd in Hyde Park at the Nelson Mandela Freedom Rally on 17 July 1988. The rally was the climax of the AAM’s ‘Nelson Mandela: Freedom at 70’ campaign and the biggest ever anti-apartheid demonstration in Britain. It rally began with music from Jonas Gwangwa and Archbishop Desmond Tutu gave the keynote speech.

The Mandela marchers on stage at the 250,000-strong Nelson Mandela Freedom rally in Hyde Park on 17 July 1988. The rally was the climax of the AAM’s ‘Nelson Mandela: Freedom at 70’ campaign and the biggest ever anti-apartheid demonstration in Britain. At the end of the campaign a poll showed that Nelson Mandela had become a household name in Britain and 70% of people supported the call for his release.

Archbishop Desmond Tutu at the Nelson Mandela Freedom rally in Hyde Park. Thousands of demonstrators marched through central London on 17 July 1988 to a rally attended by 250,000 people. The rally was the climax of the AAM’s ‘Nelson Mandela: Freedom at 70’ campaign and the biggest ever anti-apartheid demonstration in Britain. At the end of the campaign a poll showed that Nelson Mandela had become a household name in Britain and 70% of people  supported the call for his release.

Invitation card for a service of tribute to Nelson Mandela on his 70th birthday at St James’s Church, Piccadilly.

This leaflet publicised an overnight vigil outside the South African Embassy in London to see in Nelson Mandela’s 70th birthday on 18 July 1988. It asked people to join the last leg of the Mandela Freedom March on 17 July and to wear a ‘Free Mandela’ badge. The AAM produced 1 million badges for supporters to wear on 18 July.

A deputation from the AAM delivered over 30,000 cards calling for Nelson Mandela’s release to the South African Embassy in London on Mandela’s 70th birthday, 18 July 1988. The cards were signed by people from all over Britain. The Embassy refused to accept the cards and threw them onto the pavement.