Photos

Hundreds of students staged a sit-down protest against apartheid in front of the South African Embassy on 19 October 1985. In a national week of student solidarity more than 300 colleges all over the country took some form of anti-apartheid action. Several Barclays branches were occupied by demonstrators and the NUS renamed its north London headquarters Nelson Mandela House.

ANC President Oliver Tambo and Nelson Mandela’s daughter Zenani Mandela unveiled a bust of Nelson Mandela on London’s south bank on 28 October 1985. The bust was created by sculptor Ian Walters and sponsored by the Greater London Council.

Maritime trade unions from around the world agreed to take direct action against ships supplying oil to South Africa at a conference in London on 30–31 October 1985. They were urged to take action by ANC President Oliver Tambo. The conference was sponsored by the UN Special Committee Against Apartheid and organised by the British National Union of Seamen.

Trevor Huddleston, Jesse Jackson and GLC member Paul Boateng at a press conference to announce a March against Apartheid on 2 November 1985. The march took place just after Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher rejected most of the sanctions measures imposed by the Commonwealth Heads of Government meeting in Nassau.

The contingent from the Mangrove, All Saints Road, North Kensington, on their way to join the march for sanctions against South Africa on 2 November 1985. In the background is a banner from the Tabernacle Community Centre. 150,000 people marched from east, west and south London to Trafalgar Square on 2 November 1985 to demand British sanctions against South Africa. ANC President Oliver Tambo, SWAPO leader Shapua Kaukungua and US civil rights leader Jesse Jackson all called for a change of government policy. The march was the culmination of an intensive campaign that reached every part of Britain.

ANC President Oliver Tambo, Trevor Huddleston, President of the AAM, and US civil rights activist Jesse Jackson at the head of the AAM’s march for sanctions on 2 November 1985. 150,000 people marched from east, west and south London to Trafalgar Square to demand that the British government support UN mandatory sanctions against South Africa. In the Square, Oliver Tambo, Jesse Jackson and SWAPO leader Shapua Kaukungua called for a change of government policy. The march was the culmination of an intensive campaign that reached every part of Britain. 

150,000 people marched from east, west and south London to Trafalgar Square on 2 November 1985 to demand British sanctions against South Africa. In the Square, ANC President Oliver Tambo, SWAPO leader Shapua Kaukungua and US civil rights leader Jesse Jackson all called for a change of government policy. In the picture is Ken Livingstone, Leader of the Greater London Council. The march was the culmination of an intensive campaign that reached every corner of Britain.

150,000 people marched from east, west and south London to Trafalgar Square on 2 November 1985 to demand British sanctions against South Africa. In the Square, ANC President Oliver Tambo, SWAPO leader Shapua Kaukungua and US civil rights leader Jesse Jackson all called for a change of government policy. The march was the culmination of an intensive campaign that reached every part of Britain.