Protests
During the 1980s, protests and rallies took place in Europe, Americas, and South Africa; in essence, they all cried for the same thing: the freedom of Nelson Mandela.
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"During the summer [of 1985], anti-apartheid rallies and protests [took place] in New York City, Atlanta and Washington." |
"A free Mandela was to mean a free South Africa." |
"World famous musicians, including Bruce Springsteen and Miles Davis, release the anti-apartheid disk "Sun City.' The song "Free Nelson Mandela" reaches the Top Ten on rock-music charts in England."
- from PBS' The Long Walk of Nelson Mandela
Sun City - Bruce Sprinceteen
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Free Nelson Mandela - The Specials
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Free Nelson Mandela - Amy Winehouse
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Release
100,000 South African citizens attended his release celebration at the Grand Parade grounds outside of Cape Town's City Hall. Mandela told the crowd, "Today, the majority of South Africans, black and white, recognize that apartheid has no future. It has to be ended by our decisive mass action, We have waited too long for our freedom.”
Mandela had the support of hundreds of thousands people behind him and the battle against the Apartheid was swiftly coming to an end.
“I have walked that long road to freedom. I have tried not to falter; I have made missteps along the way. But I have discovered the secret that after climbing a great hill, one only finds that there are many more hills to climb. I have taken a moment here to rest, to steal a view of the glorious vista that surrounds me, to look back on the distance I have come. But I can only rest for a moment, for with freedom come responsibilities, and I dare not linger, for my long walk is not ended.”
-Nelson Mandela (A Long Walk to Freedom)
Mandela's speech after being released - Youtube