LONDONERS PROTEST MANDELA SENTENCES
By John Powell
LONDON =- The first of a series of local public meetings to protest the savage life sentences given to Nelson Mandela and his seven comrades:in South Africa was held June 20 outside the- Dalston Odeon (Hackney, London).
- Leaflets were distributed in the shopping centre opposite the cinema by members of the Young Socialists. An audience built up as the speakers put the case on behalf of the local Hackney Labour parties against spartheid and race hatred.
Speakers included the present and past Labour mayors of Hackney, a representative of the Greater London Council and one of the key activists of the Young Socialists,
A leaflet headed "Apartheia and Race Hatred" stated: « "You can help by supporting the Labour Party in their fight to ban arms exports to South Africa, and by boycotting South African goods, some~ thing that all organisations fighting apartheid in South Afrioa have called for,"
The leaflet continued: “"The Tories and their friends in industry are spending millions to defeat Labouy, The Labour Party relies on its members for financial support. If you are Labour supporters, join now."
Another leaflet, "Dont t Buy South African Goods," was also distributed, It listed brand names,
-This active approach to recruiting for the Labour party has always yielded positive results,
_. The crowd responded in a lively way to the speakers, who called for a boycott of South African goods and demanded the imnediate release of all political prisoners in South Africa, : The case of Dr, Neville Alexander and his ten comrades, who recently received*long prison terms for their opposition to the Verwoerd regime was also brought up.
Hackney, located in the East End of London with its mixed population, has always reacted in favor of united Labour and trade~ union action against fascism and race hatred, Ridley Road, the scene of many. prewar and postwar battles between. fascists and antifasocists is located. in Hackney.
SHASTRI