1980s

Supporters of Birmingham AA Youth Committee took their banner on Birmingham’s May Day demonstration on 1 May 1987. They were joined by British miners leader Arthur Scargill (centre). In June the group launched a campaign to make the Handsworth district of Birmingham an apartheid-free zone.

Sheffield AAM picketed a Shell garage as part of an international week of action to force Shell to pull out of South Africa, 11–17 May 1987. All over Britain local anti-apartheid groups picketed Shell garages asking motorists to boycott Shell. The AAM launched its ‘Boycott Shell’ campaign on 1 March. Shell was joint owner of one of South Africa’s biggest oil refineries. It was a lead company in South Africa’s coalmining and petrochemicals industries.

The leader of Southwark Council in south London, Anne Matthews, joined a picket of a local Shell garage in May 1987. The picket was part of an international week of action, 11–17 May, when the AAM’s London Committee organised demonstrations outside over 100 Shell garages in London. Shell was joint owner of one of South Africa’s biggest oil refineries. It was a lead company in South Africa’s coalmining and petrochemicals industries. The AAM launched its ‘Boycott Shell’ campaign on 1 March 1987.

Poster publicising the National Convention for Sanctions held on 27 June 1987. The convention was attended by delegates from over 250 organisations, including national trade unions, local councils and 61 local anti-apartheid groups. It was held in response to Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher’s determination to oppose all sanctions measures against South Africa and was billed as ‘a people’s Parliament against apartheid’. The emphasis was on local action. 

In 1986 Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher blocked the imposition of effective sanctions by the Commonwealth and the British government voted against sanctions in the UN Security Council. The AAM tried to reinvigorate the campaign by calling for ‘people’s sanctions’. The National Convention for Sanctions held on 27 June was billed as ‘a people’s Parliament against apartheid’. It was attended by delegates from over 250 organisations, including national trade unions, local councils and 61 local anti-apartheid groups. The emphasis was on local action. The groups contributed to an exhibition on ‘People’s Action Against Apartheid’. 

The AAM’s National Convention for Sanctions, held on 27 June 1987, called for a mass movement of ‘people’s sanctions’. The AAM was responding to Prime Minister Thatcher’s refusal to implement any significant measures against the apartheid government. The Convention was attended by trade unionists, local councillors, students, church and women’s groups and representatives of political parties. It adopted a Programme of Action and pledged support for a mass demonstration on 24 October.

The Programme of Action for Sanctions was adopted by the AAM’s National Convention for Sanctions held in June 1987. The Programme stressed the need for people’s sanctions in face of the determination of the British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher to block all moves to impose international sanctions against South Africa by the UN, Commonwealth and European Economic Community.   

South African Youth Congress representatives Joe Nkuna and Faye Reagon launched a campaign to save the lives of 32 people sentenced to death in South Africa for their anti-apartheid activities. They planned to present over 32,000 signatures – 1,000 for each prisoner – to the British, West German and US embassies in South Africa to internationalise the campaign. In London 43 MPs signed an early day motion backing the initiative. Southern Africa the Imprisoned Society (SATIS) and the AAM organised a meeting chaired by Betty Heathfield of Women Against Pit Closures.