On June 12, 1964, Nelson Mandela and seven other leaders of the African National Congress were sentenced to life imprisonment at the conclusion of the Rivonia Trial in South Africa. Charged with sabotage and plotting to overthrow the apartheid regime, Mandela gave his famous “I am prepared to die” speech during the trial. The harsh sentence sought to silence the anti-apartheid movement, but instead, it elevated Mandela as a global icon of resistance. June 12 became a rallying cry for international solidarity against apartheid. The sentence galvanized the global anti-apartheid movement, leading to boycotts, divestments, and UN sanctions. It marked the beginning of Mandela’s 27-year imprisonment and solidified his role in history.
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