Free Mandela

The international campaign that led to the release of Nelson Mandela in 1990 began on his 60th birthday in 1978. British Prime Minister James Callaghan sent birthday greetings from the House of Commons and at a meeting held on 18 July Mary Benson recalled Mandela’s visit to London 16 years before. Politicians and trade union leaders signed a birthday card which they attempted to deliver to the South African Embassy. Ffity thousand copies of this leaflet were distributed by the AAM.

Anti-apartheid supporters and ANC members picketed South Africa House to mark Nelson Mandela’s 60th birthday on 18 July 1978. In the House of Commons Prime Minister James Callaghan sent birthday greetings, and politicians and trade unionists signed a birthday card which they tried to hand in at South Africa House.

Labour MPs outside South Africa House on Nelson Mandela’s 60^th  birthday on 18 July 1978. The Embassy refused to accept a birthday card signed by British politicians and trade unionists. In the photo are MPs Joan Lestor, Barbara Castle and Bob Hughes, Chairman of the Anti-Apartheid Movement.

The National Union of Students elected Nelson Mandela as its Vice-President after he was sentenced to life imprisonment in the Rivonia trial in 1964. In 1971 the NUS set up a student network to campaign on Southern Africa jointly with the Anti-Apartheid Movement. This poster was produced as part of its Southern Africa Campaign.

Poster advertising a rally on South Africa Freedom Day, 26 June 1980, to mark the 25th anniversary of the Freedom Charter. The rally was organised by an umbrella group, the South Africa Freedom Day Committee, and the main speaker was ANC Secretary-General Alfred Nzo. The ANC declared 1980 the ‘Year of the Charter’ and the AAM distributed thousands of copies of the Freedom Charter during the year.

In 1980 the AAM circulated a declaration calling for the release of Nelson Mandela, signed by trade unions, politicians, academics and playwrights. It distributed badges, leaflets and stickers calling for Mandela’s release, in response to a campaign launched inside South Africa. Thousands of this leaflet were circulated as part of the campaign.

In 1980 the AAM circulated a declaration calling for the release of Nelson Mandela, signed by trade unions, politicians, academics and playwrights. It distributed thousands of badges, leaflets and stickers calling for Mandela’s release, in response to a campaign launched inside South Africa. More than 5,000 copies of this postcard were sent to the South African Sunday Post, which backed the South African campaign.

Poster produced for the AAM campaign for freedom for Nelson Mandela in response to a petition launched by the South African Sunday Post in 1980. A declaration calling for Mandela’s release was endorsed by MPs, trade unions, playwrights, musicians and academics in Britain. The AAM distributed thousands of badges, leaflets and stickers calling for Mandela’s release. The following year Glasgow became the first British city to award him the freedom of the city. In the 1980s buildings, streets and public gardens all over Britain were renamed in his honour.