Free Mandela

ANC President Oliver Tambo and Nelson Mandela’s daughter Zenani Mandela unveiled a bust of Nelson Mandela on London’s south bank on 28 October 1985. The bust was created by sculptor Ian Walters and sponsored by the Greater London Council.

In 1985 the British Defence and Aid Fund launched the Mandela Poetry Project to mark Human Rights Day, 10 December. It asked school students to contribute poems about Nelson Mandela and other Southern African political prisoners. This poster reproduces some of the 200 poems that were written as part of the project.

Leaflet advertising the launch of City of London AA Group’s non-stop picket calling for the release of Nelson Mandela. CLAAG supporters kept up a 24-hour picket of the South African embassy for nearly four years from 19 April 1986 until Mandela’s release on 11 February 1990. The picket attracted hundreds of enthusiastic young activists.  CLAAG was formed as a branch of the AAM in 1982, but internal arguments led to its disaffiliation in February 1985.

St George’s Place in central Glasgow was renamed Nelson Mandela Place on 16 June 1986. The South African consulate was located on the fifth floor of the Stock Exchange. The photograph shows the Lord Provost of Glasgow, Bob Gray,Glasgow Councillor Pat Chalmers and Essop Pahad from the ANC at the ceremony where the new name was unveiled. After the renaming, the consulate used a post office box number instead of the address.

Leaflet produced by the City of London Anti-Apartheid Group asking people to join its contingent on the March and Festival for Freedom organised by the AAM on 28 June 1986. The leaflet also advertised the group’s evening vigil held as part of its non-stop picket of the South African Embassy calling for the release of Nelson Mandela. The 24-hour picket ran for nearly four years from 19 April 1986 until Mandela’s release on 11 February 1990.

Sponsored cycle rides were a feature of the ‘Free Nelson Mandela’ campaign – the first was held in 1982. This ride, held in September 1986, raised funds for Southern Africa the Imprisoned Society (SATIS).

‘Cycle for Mandela’ bike rides were held in centres all over Britain on his birthday, 18 July 1987.  The rides publicised the campaign for his release and raised funds for Southern Africa the Imprisoned Society (SATIS).

In 1988 the AAM launched a new initiative for Mandela’s release, ‘Nelson Mandela: Freedom at 70’. It was discussed at the ANC’s international solidarity conference in Arusha, Tanzania in December 1987 and developed into the biggest campaign ever organised by the AAM. It began with a birthday tribute concert at Wembley on 11 June and culminated in a rally attended by 250,000 people in Hyde Park on 17 July, the eve of Nelson Mandela’s 70th birthday.