MARCHERS WITH PLACARDS AND BANNERS: POLICE: MARCHERS APPROACH PORTUGUESE EMBASSY: PETITION HANDED IN: BANNERS: DEMONSTRATORS IN TRAFALGAR SQUARE: PLACARDS AND NAZI SIGNS.




Initials GHB/V/BOB/PF



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Background: THE ANTI-APARTHEID MOVEMENT YESTERDAY (SUNDAY) ORGANISED A RALLY IN TRAFALGAR SQUARE, LONDON, TO COMMEMORATE SOUTH AFRICA FREEDOM DAY. MEMBERS OF ANTI-APARTHEID COMMITTEES AND UNIVERSITY GROUPS FROM MANY PARTS OF ENGLAND TRAVELLED TO LONDON TO TAKE PART IN THE RALLY.

THE DEMONSTRATORS MARCHED FROM HYDE PARK CORNER TO TRAFALGAR SQUARE. CALLING ON THE WAY AT THE PORTUGUESE EMBASSY WHERE THEY HANDED IN A LETTER PROTESTING AGAINST WHAT THEY DESCRIBED AS PORTUGUESE AGGRESSION IN AFRICA.

AMONG THE SPEAKERS AT THE RALLY WERE THE PRESIDENT OF THE ANTI-APARTHEID MOVEMENT, DAVID STEEL M.P., WHO WAS ALSO CHAIRMAN OF THE RALLY; ANDREWS FAULDS, M.P., VICE-CHAIRMAN OF THE MOVEMENT AND OLIVER TAMBO, ACTING PRESIDENT-GENERAL OF THE AFRICAN NATIONAL CONGRESS OF SOUTH AFRICA.

ORGANISATIONS SUPPORTING THE RALLY INCLUDED THE AFRICAN BUREAU, THE MOVEMENT FOR COLONIAL FREEDOM, THE CAMPAIGN AGAINST RACIAL DISCRIMINATION, THE COMMITTEE FOR FREEDOM IN MOZAMBIQUE AND THE LONDON CO-OPERATIVE SOCIETY POLITICAL COMMITTEE.