1980s

Jim Kerr of the rock band Simple Minds launched the Nelson Mandela Freedom March at a rally in Glasgow on 12 June 1988. Among the speakers at the rally were ANC President Oliver Tambo, SWAPO leader Andimba Toivo ja Toivo, Domingos Ginga of MPLA, Allan Boesak, Labour MPs Bernie Grant and Joan Lestor and the President and Chair of the AAM, Trevor Huddleston and Bob Hughes MP. The Freedom March was part of the AAM’s Nelson Mandela: Freedom at 70 campaign.

Demonstration to launch the Nelson Mandela Freedom March in Glasgow on 12 June 1988. As part of the AAM’s ‘Nelson Mandela: Freedom at 70’ campaign, 25 Mandela freedom marchers walked 590 miles from Glasgow to London, 12 June–17 July 1988. They took part in meetings and events in 40 cities and towns along the way. Left to right: SWAPO leader Andimba Toivo ja Toivo, Janey Buchan MP, AAM President Trevor Huddleston and Jim Kerr of Simple Minds.

Twenty-five freedom marchers, one for each year of Mandela’s imprisonment, walked 590 miles from Glasgow to London, 12 June–17 July 1988. The march was part of the AAM’s ‘Nelson Mandela: Freedom at 70’ campaign. Local supporters organised meetings and events in the 40 cities and towns they passed along the way.

The Nelson Mandela Freedom marchers leaving Newcastle-upon-Tyne. Twenty-five freedom marchers, one for each year of Mandela’s imprisonment, walked 590 miles from Glasgow to London, 12 June–17 July 1988. The march was part of the AAM’s ‘Nelson Mandela: Freedom at 70’ campaign. Local supporters organised meetings and events in the 40 cities and towns they passed along the way.

The Nelson Mandela Freedom marchers at Durham. Twenty-five freedom marchers, one for each year of Mandela’s imprisonment, walked 590 miles from Glasgow to London, 12 June–17 July 1988. The march was part of the AAM’s ‘Nelson Mandela: Freedom at 70’ campaign. Local supporters organised meetings and events in the 40 cities and towns they passed along the way.

Mandela on the march: twenty-five freedom marchers, one for each year of Mandela’s imprisonment, walked 590 miles from Glasgow to London, 12 June–17 July 1988. The march was part of the AAM’s ‘Nelson Mandela: Freedom at 70’ campaign. Local supporters organised meetings and events in the 40 cities and towns they passed along the way.

The Nelson Mandela freedom marchers carried a giant birthday cake through York in the Lord Mayor’s parade in June 1988. Twenty-five freedom marchers, one for each year of Mandela’s imprisonment, walked 590 miles from Glasgow to London. The march was part of the AAM’s ‘Nelson Mandela: Freedom at 70’ campaign. Local supporters organised meetings and events in the 40 cities and towns they passed along the way.

Thousands of demonstrators marched through central London on 17 July 1988 to a rally attended by 250,000 people in Hyde Park. The rally was the climax of the AAM’s ‘Nelson Mandela: Freedom at 70’ campaign and the biggest ever anti-apartheid demonstration in Britain.