Today is the anniversary of Nelson Mandela’s release from 27 years in prison. The world celebrated, not least In Glasgow where a large crowd gathered in Nelson Mandela Place, Glasgow, filling the street. This year we commemorate 35 years since that momentous event.
In 2022 the Nelson Mandela Scottish Memorial Foundation (NMSMF) marked the anniversary with a special nine-minute online video covering Scotland’s links to the event, the background, and the change it brought about. The video was created by the late John Stevenson, a trustee and long-time supporter of NMSMF and we are proud to post it again.
It was part of our drive for funds to build a statue of Mandela in Nelson Mandela Place with a long-term education project about Scotland’s significant role in supporting the anti-apartheid struggle in South Africa. Things are moving forward but you can still help build a statue to Nelson Mandela in Nelson Mandela Place Glasgow by donating to our fund at https://bit.ly/NMSMFdon
Planning permission has now been granted for the statue at a site in Nelson Mandela Place and a large block of South African granite for the plinth has been procured and transported to Scotland for finishing at Oldmeldrum, Aberdeenshire.
Scotland’s support had included Glasgow being the first in the world in 1981 to award Mandela the Freedom of the City, with Aberdeen, Dundee, and Midlothian all also granting freedoms of their authorities when he was still a political prisoner. He famously visited Glasgow to receive the Freedoms of 9 UK cities, districts and boroughs in 1993 and said they: “Made us realise that the world hadn’t forgotten us.”
Brian Filling, chair of the NMSMF, stressed the importance of marking Scotland’s historic role in fighting apartheid and the ongoing need to continue tackling inequality and racism in society. He said, at the time: “The video follows a well-received series covering significant events which has moved people to donate to help make the statue and its education programme a reality. We thank them and hope that support continues because we are nearly there.”
“A permanent memorial to Nelson Mandela will not only remind Scots of their proud history of solidarity with the South African people, but it will also educate future generations to stand up against racism and prejudice wherever and whenever it rears its ugly head.”
That history of solidarity saw huge support from Scotland and its anti-apartheid movement with practical help, boycotts, campaigning, a year-long picket of the South African Consulate, the renaming of the consulate’s address as Nelson Mandela Place, and the 30,000 strong Freedom March.
Glasgow’s first in granting of the Freedom of the City had a world-wide effect and kick-started 2,264 mayors from 56 different countries signing a declaration to the UN in 1981 demanding his release.
Four dangerous years of negotiation then followed Mandela’s release and led to free elections and Mandela as President.
This year our campaign is celebrating the 44th anniversary of Nelson Mandela receiving the Freedom of the City of Glasgow, the first city in the world to award the honour; and the 39th anniversary of the naming of Nelson Mandela Place in Glasgow when it was still the location of the apartheid consulate.