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Nelson Mándela's Released From Prision: 1990: Nelson Mandela, Leader of The South African Movement To End Apartheid
Nelson Mándela's Released From Prision: 1990: Nelson Mandela, Leader of The South African Movement To End Apartheid
Nelson Mandela, leader of the South African movement to end apartheid, was
released from prison on February 11th, 1990 -- 27 years after he was put
behind bars.
After marching through the streets, he spoke at Cape Town's City Hall before
thousands.
"I greet you all in the name of peace, democracy and freedom for all," Mandela
said.
"After 27 years, his head high and his fist clenched, Nelson Mandela walked out
of Victor Verster Prison like a chief of state flanked by his First Lady, and by the
men who'd been hired to protect him," Simon reported.
The South African State Police provided security for Mandela, once the most
wanted man in Africa, as he marched and waved to the thousands lining the
streets.
But the celebrations soon turned violent -- the dancing became stampeding,
looting, and vandalism.
"The government insisted it would release Mandela into dignity, but by giving
his organization less than 24 hours notice, it created conditions for chaos,"
explained Simon.
At least two people were reported dead and hundreds more were injured on
that day. It wasn't until Mandela appeared on the steps of City Hall to address
his supporters that the violence stopped.
In 1964, he was charged with sabotage and again convicted, then sentenced to
life in prison. It wasn't until 1989, when F.W. de Klerk was elected president of
South Africa, that apartheid began to be broken down.
De Klerk called for Mandela's release in 1990, and Nelson Mandela was
elected president in 1994.