Local AA groups

Exeter AA Group collected thousands of signatures to this petition in 1985, calling on Exeter City Council to to declare itself an apartheid free zone. Sheffield City Council was the first local authority in Britain end all links with South Africa, in 1981.

In 1985 the local community association in the multi-racial St Paul’s area of Bristol launched a campaign to persuade local shops and businesses to end all links with South Africa. After a slow start, the great majority of local shops and all seven pubs in the area agreed to boycott apartheid products. This newsletter reproduced a Declaration signed by local businesses. The campaign gained such momentum that the local Tesco’s branch agreed not to stock South African goods.

In 1985 the local community association in the multi-racial St Paul’s area of Bristol launched a campaign to persuade local shops and businesses to end all links with South Africa. After a slow start, the great majority of local shops and all seven pubs in the area stopped selling apartheid products. The community association also asked local businesses to boycott Barclays Bank. Its annual report described the progress of the campaign. 

Bristol anti-apartheid supporters took part in an anti-racist demonstration in Bristol City Centre on 31 August 1985. Although the national AAM did not formally affiliate to organisations opposing racism within Britain, many AA groups joined local protests.

Anti-apartheid supporters on Tyneside marched through Newcastle upon Tyne to show their support for sanctions against South Africa on 7 December 1985.

Hackney and Tower Hamlets AA Group outside Tower Hamlets Town Hall in east London in 1985. They were protesting outside an exhibition sponsored by Barclays Bank. Barclays was the biggest high street bank in South Africa.

Poster asking shoppers in Sheffield to boycott South African goods.

Sleeve for a cassette of freedom songs sung by Tyneside Anti-Apartheid Choir. The choir sang at many events on Tyneside in the 1980s. The cassette was produced to raise funds for Tyneside AA Group.