Photos

Members of the Royal Shakespeare Company joined protests against the invitation to the South African Embassy to the annual Shakespeare birthday celebrations at Stratford in April 1987. Fifty countries pulled out after the organisers refused to withdraw the invitation. Protesters also staged a sit-down in the path of the official parade.

Police arrest a protester at a demonstration against the invitation to the South African Embassy to take part in the annual Shakespeare birthday celebrations at Stratford in April 1987. Members of the Royal Shakespeare Company joined the protests. Fifty countries pulled out after the organisers refused to withdraw the invitation to South Africa.

Lawyers Against Apartheid was formed in December 1986 and held its inaugural meeting in April 1987. The group campaigned against the abuse of the laws by the apartheid regime. It gave advice to anti-apartheid activists who fell foul of the law in Britain. Left to right: Willem van Manen, Martin Mabiletsa (ANC), Geoffrey Bindman, Lord Gifford, Bience Gawanas (SWAPO), Adrienne Barnett.

Supporters of Birmingham AA Youth Committee took their banner on Birmingham’s May Day demonstration on 1 May 1987. They were joined by British miners leader Arthur Scargill (centre). In June the group launched a campaign to make the Handsworth district of Birmingham an apartheid-free zone.

Sheffield AAM picketed a Shell garage as part of an international week of action to force Shell to pull out of South Africa, 11–17 May 1987. All over Britain local anti-apartheid groups picketed Shell garages asking motorists to boycott Shell. The AAM launched its ‘Boycott Shell’ campaign on 1 March. Shell was joint owner of one of South Africa’s biggest oil refineries. It was a lead company in South Africa’s coalmining and petrochemicals industries.

The leader of Southwark Council in south London, Anne Matthews, joined a picket of a local Shell garage in May 1987. The picket was part of an international week of action, 11–17 May, when the AAM’s London Committee organised demonstrations outside over 100 Shell garages in London. Shell was joint owner of one of South Africa’s biggest oil refineries. It was a lead company in South Africa’s coalmining and petrochemicals industries. The AAM launched its ‘Boycott Shell’ campaign on 1 March 1987.

Supporters of Haringey AA Group held regular pickets of the Shell garage in Tottenham, north London, as part of the AAM's campaign for a boycott of Shell. The AAM launched the boycott on 1 March 1987 as part of an international campaign. Shell was joint owner of one of South Africa’s biggest oil refineries. It was a lead company in South Africa’s coalmining and petrochemicals industries.

The AAM’s National Convention for Sanctions, held on 27 June 1987, called for a mass movement of ‘people’s sanctions’. The AAM was responding to Prime Minister Thatcher’s refusal to implement any significant measures against the apartheid government. The Convention was attended by trade unionists, local councillors, students, church and women’s groups and representatives of political parties. It adopted a Programme of Action and pledged support for a mass demonstration on 24 October.