Video to celebrate the anniversary of Nelson Mandela’s release from prison on 11 February 1990 and to show our progress towards the aim of creating a statue of Mandela in Glasgow.
The video goes live on 11 February 2023 at 12 noon. If you miss it, it will still be here to view. Donate to our campaign here
Scotland celebrated Nelson Mandela’s release from prison with crowds gathering in Nelson Mandela Place in Glasgow, Edinburgh, Aberdeen, Dundee and across other Scottish towns and cities.
The Nelson Mandela Scottish Memorial Foundation (NMSMF) is marking the anniversary this year with a special eight-minute online video premiering at 12 noon on Saturday 11 February.
The video includes an update on progress with the Mandela statue to be sited in Nelson Mandela Place, Glasgow and clips from Nelson Mandela’s speech on receiving the Freedom of the City of Glasgow and eight other UK Local Authorities on 9 October 1993.
It is part of the 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.
That support had included Glasgow being the first in the world in 1981 to award Mandela the Freedom of the City when he was still a political prisoner.
Brian Filling, chair of the NMSMF, said: “This video follows a well-received series covering significant events which have 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 making significant progress in the creation of the statue”
He stressed the importance of marking Scotland’s historic role in fighting apartheid and the ongoing need to continue tackling inequality and racism in society.
“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 was the first city in the world to grant Freedom of the City and it had a world-wide effect leading to 2,264 mayors from 56 different countries signing a declaration to the UN in 1981 demanding his release.