80s06. ‘Southern Africa: The Time to Choose’ demonstration

The AAM’s ‘Southern Africa: the Time to Choose’ conference was followed by a 15,000-strong march and rally in central London on 14 March 1982. The rally was the biggest anti-apartheid demonstration since the march against the Sharpeville massacre in 1960. Speakers included ANC Secretary General Alfred Nzo, representatives of the Labour and Liberal Parties and the TUC, asylum seekers campaigner Anwar Ditta and the only black member of the British Sports Council, Paul Stephenson. On the morning of the demonstration a bomb blast destroyed part of the ANC’s London office.