1990s

This poster was one of a set of four published in January 1990 for the launch of the AAM’s ‘South Africa Freedom Now!’. The decision to launch the campaign was taken against the background of changes in South Africa and the build-up to the release of Nelson Mandela. The poster highlighted the need for an end to all repression in South Africa before meaningful negotiations could take place.

This poster was one of a set of four published in January 1990 for the launch of the AAM’s ‘South Africa Freedom Now!’ campaign. The decision to launch the campaign was taken against the background of changes in South Africa and the build-up to the release of Nelson Mandela. The poster highlighted the need for an end to all repression in South Africa before meaningful negotiations could take place.

This poster was one of a set of four published in January 1990 for the launch of the AAM’s ‘South Africa Freedom Now!’. The decision to launch the campaign was taken against the background of changes in South Africa and the build-up to the release of Nelson Mandela. The poster highlighted the need to maintain sanctions until an agreement had been reached on a transition to democracy.

This poster was one of a set of four published in January 1990 for the launch of the AAM’s ‘South Africa Freedom Now!’. The decision to launch the campaign was taken against the background of changes in South Africa and the build-up to the release of Nelson Mandela.  The poster flagged up the aim of any negotiations as being the achievement of a united democratic non-racial South Africa.

The Southern Africa Coalition brought together a wide range of organisations, including trade unions, churches, overseas aid agencies and the AAM. In Tyneside, north-east England, local branches of the organisations that made up the coalition organised a week of anti-apartheid events in February 1990.

Early in 1990 the AAM joined with the ANC and other organisations to set up a British Nelson Mandela Reception Committee, convened by AAM President Trevor Huddleston. As well as celebrating Mandela’s freedom, the Committee called for the release of all South African political prisoners and the creation of conditions for negotiations for a new democratic constitution. This leaflet publicised a demonstration at the South African Embassy to coincide with President de Klerk’s expected announcement of the date of Mandela’s release.

Thousands of people gathered spontaneously outside South Africa House in London on 11 February 1990 to celebrate Nelson Mandela’s release.

All over Britain people celebrated Nelson Mandela’s release on 11 February 1990. These two young women were taking part in a vigil on the steps of Sheffield Town Hall.