1981 – Amnesty International Campaigns Against Apartheid Executions

On May 28, 1981, Amnesty International launched a major campaign protesting the death sentences of three anti-apartheid activists in South Africa. The campaign focused on Dr. Fabian Ribeiro, Jerry Mosololi, and others unjustly sentenced under apartheid-era terrorism laws. International pressure, including that from Black civil rights leaders in the U.S., forced the South African government to reconsider the executions. The movement drew global attention to the brutal tactics of the apartheid regime and highlighted the power of international solidarity in Black liberation struggles. This moment demonstrated how advocacy by African Americans and global human rights groups could impact conditions for Black people worldwide. May 28 is a reminder of the interconnected fight for freedom, and how voices across borders can challenge colonial violence. The campaign ultimately saved lives and strengthened the global anti-apartheid network that would help bring the regime down.