1980s

Maritime trade unions from around the world agreed to take direct action against ships supplying oil to South Africa at a conference in London on 30–31 October 1985. They were urged to take action by ANC President Oliver Tambo. The conference was sponsored by the UN Special Committee Against Apartheid and organised by the British National Union of Seamen.

Trevor Huddleston, Jesse Jackson and GLC member Paul Boateng at a press conference to announce a March against Apartheid on 2 November 1985. The march took place just after Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher rejected most of the sanctions measures imposed by the Commonwealth Heads of Government meeting in Nassau.

The AAM’s March against Apartheid on 2 November 1985 was the biggest ever anti-apartheid march in Britain to date. Three separate marches converged on Trafalgar Square, where ANC President Oliver Tambo, SWAPO leader Shapua Kaukungua and US civil rights activist Jesse Jackson called on the British government to impose sanctions against South Africa. The march followed demonstrations in Birmingham, Manchester, Sheffield, Edinburgh and Stirling. A month earlier Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher was forced to agree to limited sanctions at the Commonwealth Conference held in Nassau and to ‘restrictive measures’ imposed by the European Economic Community. But she blocked a bigger package of sanctions agreed by Commonwealth leaders.

The contingent from the Mangrove, All Saints Road, North Kensington, on their way to join the march for sanctions against South Africa on 2 November 1985. In the background is a banner from the Tabernacle Community Centre. 150,000 people marched from east, west and south London to Trafalgar Square on 2 November 1985 to demand British sanctions against South Africa. ANC President Oliver Tambo, SWAPO leader Shapua Kaukungua and US civil rights leader Jesse Jackson all called for a change of government policy. The march was the culmination of an intensive campaign that reached every part of Britain.

ANC President Oliver Tambo, Trevor Huddleston, President of the AAM, and US civil rights activist Jesse Jackson at the head of the AAM’s march for sanctions on 2 November 1985. 150,000 people marched from east, west and south London to Trafalgar Square to demand that the British government support UN mandatory sanctions against South Africa. In the Square, Oliver Tambo, Jesse Jackson and SWAPO leader Shapua Kaukungua called for a change of government policy. The march was the culmination of an intensive campaign that reached every part of Britain. 

150,000 people marched from east, west and south London to Trafalgar Square on 2 November 1985 to demand British sanctions against South Africa. In the Square, ANC President Oliver Tambo, SWAPO leader Shapua Kaukungua and US civil rights leader Jesse Jackson all called for a change of government policy. In the picture is Ken Livingstone, Leader of the Greater London Council. The march was the culmination of an intensive campaign that reached every corner of Britain.

150,000 people marched from east, west and south London to Trafalgar Square on 2 November 1985 to demand British sanctions against South Africa. In the Square, ANC President Oliver Tambo, SWAPO leader Shapua Kaukungua and US civil rights leader Jesse Jackson all called for a change of government policy. The march was the culmination of an intensive campaign that reached every part of Britain.

150,000 people marched from east, west and south London to Trafalgar Square on 2 November 1985 to demand British sanctions against South Africa. In the Square, ANC President Oliver Tambo, SWAPO leader Shapua Kaukungua and US civil rights leader Jesse Jackson all called for a change of government policy. The march was the culmination of an intensive campaign that reached every part of Britain.