1980s

Poster advertising the AAM demonstration calling for UN mandatory sanctions on 24 October 1987. Thousands marched through central London to an AAM rally in Hyde Park. The speakers at the rally included SWAPO President Sam Nujoma, Johnstone Makatini of the ANC, Archbishop Trevor Huddleston, Labour MP Bernie Grant and Glenys Kinnock.

Programme for the AAM ‘Sanctions Now!’ march and rally held on 24 October 1987. Around 60,000 people joined the march, from the Thames Embankment to Hyde Park. The speakers listed in the programme were joined by ANC leader Johnstone Makatini. On the same day Wales AAM organised a 4,000-strong march through Cardiff City Centre. The marches followed the Commonwealth conference in Vancouver, where British Prime Minister Thatcher was the only dissenting voice from a new Commonwealth sanctions package. 

Letter from AAM President Archbishop Trevor Huddleston sent to Prime Minister Thatcher on behalf of anti-apartheid supporters demonstrating in favour of sanctions against South Africa in October 1987.

Letter from Prime Minister Thatcher replying to Trevor Huddleston’s letter of 24 October. Thatcher reiterated her opposition to sanctions and argued that change was already taking place in South Africa. She said the British government would press for the release of Nelson Mandela ‘in the context of a cessation of violence on all sides’.

Sixty thousand people marched through London from Embankment to Hyde Park on 24 October 1987 to call for sanctions against South Africa. The demonstration took place before the Commonwealth conference in Vancouver. A delegation handed in a letter to 10 Downing Street. The speakers in Hyde Park included SWAPO President Sam Nujoma, Johnstone Makatini from the ANC, TUC General Secretary Norman Willis, Glenys Kinnock, Labour MPs Bernie Grant and Joan Lestor, and AAM activist Rekha Patel.

Sixty thousand people marched through London from Embankment to Hyde Park on 24 October 1987 to call for sanctions against South Africa. The demonstration took place before the Commonwealth conference in Vancouver. A delegation handed in a letter to 10 Downing Street. The speakers in Hyde Park included SWAPO President Sam Nujoma, Johnstone Makatini from the ANC, TUC General Secretary Norman Willis, Glenys Kinnock, Labour MPs Bernie Grant and Joan Lestor, and AAM activist Rekha Patel.

Sixty thousand people marched through London from Embankment to Hyde Park on 24 October 1987 to call for sanctions against South Africa. The demonstration took place before the Commonwealth conference in Vancouver. A delegation handed in a letter to 10 Downing Street. The speakers in Hyde Park included SWAPO President Sam Nujoma and the ANC’s Johnstone Makatini. Left to right: Margaret Ling, Archbishop Trevor Huddleston, Glenys Kinnock, Sam Nujoma, Bernie Grant MP, Mike Terry and Norman Willis, General Secretary of the Trades Union Congress, on march to demand sanctions against South Africa, 24 October 1987.

Sixty thousand people marched through London from Embankment to Hyde Park on 24 October 1987 to call for sanctions against South Africa. The demonstration took place before the Commonwealth conference in Vancouver. A delegation handed in a letter to 10 Downing Street. The speakers in Hyde Park included SWAPO President Sam Nujoma, Johnstone Makatini from the ANC, TUC General Secretary Norman Willis, Glenys Kinnock, Labour MPs Bernie Grant and Joan Lestor, and AAM activist Rekha Patel. In the picture: Trevor Huddleston, Sam Nujoma and Norman Willis.