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 Sir Geoffrey Bindman is a lawyer and was Chair of Southern Africa the Imprisoned Society (SATIS ). SATIS publicised political trials, called for the release of those detained without trial and mobilised public opinion against the hanging of political prisoners.It campaigned for the release of thousands of anti-apartheid activists, including many children, detained under the States of Emergency imposed in the mid-1980s.

In  this clip Sir Geoffrey describes the lesson he learnt from Trevor Huddleston never to give up in apparently hopeless campaigns.

Margaret Ling joined the Anti-Apartheid Movement as a student in 1972 and worked in the Information Department of the International Defence and Aid Fund from 1975 to 1984. In the 1980s she edited the AAM’s monthly newspaper Anti-Apartheid News. She was a co-founder of AA Enterprises, which traded with the front line states and marketed anti-apartheid T-shirts and other merchandise. She was active in the Haringey AA Group and served on the national executive of the AAM.

In this clip Margaret Ling describes how the boycott campaign succeeded.

Margaret Ling joined the Anti-Apartheid Movement as a student in 1972 and worked in the Information Department of the International Defence and Aid Fund from 1975 to 1984. In the 1980s she edited the AAM’s monthly newspaper Anti-Apartheid News. She was a co-founder of AA Enterprises, which traded with the front line states and marketed anti-apartheid T-shirts and other merchandise. She was active in the Haringey AA Group and served on the national executive of the AAM.

In this clip Margaret Ling describes the positive purchase campaign that accompanied the boycott.

Sean O’Donovan became involved in the Anti-Apartheid Movement in 1984 as a student at Middlesex Polytechnic. He joined Haringey Anti-Apartheid Group in north London and served as its Secretary, and later Chair, until it disbanded in 1994.  He was active in the London AA Committee, the co-ordinating body for London anti-apartheid groups, and served on the AAM National Executive. He now works as a  caseworker for a Labour MP.

In this clip Sean describes a demonstration at the opening of a local supermarket, where the mayor of Haringey and the local MP joined members of Haringey AA Group in asking the store not to sell South African goods.

David Hillman became an Anti-Apartheid Movement activist in 1985, joining Hammersmith and Fulham AA Group.  He was a member of the London Anti-Apartheid Committee and the AAM Boycott Committee, where he led activities on the Boycott Shell campaign across London. After 1994, he served for over 10 years as a member of the National Executive Committee of Action for Southern Africa (ACTSA).

In this clip David Hillman describes how he and other anti-apartheid activists attempted to sabotage the tourist industry’s promotion of holidays in South Africa.

The AAM campaigned in Britain for support for black workers in South Africa, and especially for the recognition of independent trade unions by British-owned South African companies. This badge was distributed among British trade unionists.

Pauline Webb was a Methodist minister who began her career in the church’s Overseas Division and worked for the Methodist Missionary Society. In 1968 she attended the seminal Fourth Assembly of the World Council of Churches in Uppsala, Sweden, which led to the setting up of the Programme to Combat Racism. She served as Vice-Moderator of the WCC and later became Head of Religious Programmes at the BBC World Service. She was a strong supporter of the Anti-Apartheid Movement and spoke at numerous meetings and conferences, including the AAM’s first women’s conference in 1976.  

This is a complete transcript of an interview carried out as part of the Forward to Freedom history project in 2013.

Pauline Webb was a Methodist minister who began her career in the church’s Overseas Division and worked for the Methodist Missionary Society. In 1968 she attended the seminal Fourth Assembly of the World Council of Churches in Uppsala, Sweden, which led to the setting up of the Programme to Combat Racism. She served as Vice-Moderator of the WCC and later became Head of Religious Programmes at the BBC World Service. She was a strong supporter of the Anti-Apartheid Movement and spoke at numerous meetings and conferences, including the AAM’s first women’s conference in 1976. 

In this clip Pauline Webb describes the controversy provoked within the churches by the WCC’s decision to set up the Programme to Combat Racism.