European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - April 18, 1990, Darmstadt, Hesse Wednesday april 18, 1990 the stars and stripes a a a Page 3 a photos Rock Star Neil Young performs at Wembley stadium while fans give the clenched fist Salute and wave the african National Congress Flag before the Start of the anti apartheid uses concert to urge War on apartheid London apr Nelson Mandela stepped triumphantly onto the world stage at a concert full of Rock stars monday night and urged foes of apartheid to wage unrelenting War against the system that jailed him for 27 years in South Africa. The 71-year-old Black nationalist Leader standing before a sellout crowd of 72,000 at Wembley stadium beamed with pleasure As seven minutes of applause and cheers washed Over him. With his wife Winnie standing nearby Mandela then spoke forcefully for a half hour. He was interrupted about 30 times by applause. The fatigue that showed in his face earlier vanished As he thanked supporters and spoke of the need to carry on the fight. The address was telecast to millions in 40 countries. International stars filled the stadium with music and the crowd danced Sang and chanted a Mandela is free a before the Deputy president of the african National Congress spoke. It was his largest audience since his release from prison feb. 11, where he was serving a life term for sabotage and plotting to overthrow the government. The concert sold out in two Days. Among those who paid $33 to attend were american politician Jesse Jackson and Neil Kinlock Leader of Britain s opposition labor party. Top British reggae group Aswad kicked off the Celebration which featured simple minds grammy award Winner Bonnie Raitt Neil Young soul ii soul the Neville Brothers Peter Gabriel Anita Baker Tracy Chapman and Oscar winning actor Denzel Washington who played murdered Black activist Steve Biko in the film a cry Miriam Makeba cancelled her scheduled appearance for reasons of health. Said Mandela a we Are meeting Here to celebrate the Victory represented by the release of some of us. We must however remember that Only a few have been released. A a greater number remains in prison. We should therefore treat this Day of Celebration As one of rededication to. The struggle for the emancipation of All the remaining political prisoners. And against the system which keeps the outstanding sons and daughters of our people in he begged the world not to Stop fighting the racial separation system in White dominated South Africa that denies the Black majority the vote. A the apartheid crime against humanity remains in place. It continues to kill and maim. To oppress and exploit. Its bloodstained offspring continue to rain death and destruction on the Peoples of Mozambique and Angola. Every Day it produces orphans throughout Southern Africa a Mandela said. Mandela said sanctions should be maintained and that South Africa must not be rewarded for releasing political prisoners or lifting the ban on the Anc. His audience filled the playing Field and most of the stands. A huge Banner across the stage said a the struggle is my life a the title of a Book of Mandela a writings and speeches. About 72,000 filled Wembley stadium to hear Rock music and South african anti apartheid Leader Nelson Mandela. Mandela wearing a Navy Blue Blazer and a tie striped in the Black Green and Gold colors of the Anc told reporters before his speech a Twenty seven years ago when i went to jail i had no vote. I have come out and i still have no vote. Quot he said concerts such As this one were important for raising world awareness. A i think artists can play a very decisive role in the fight for human rights. Artists can reach quarters not necessarily interested in politics through music which interests everybody so that the message can go further than we politicians can push Mandela told the crowd a dear friends it will not be Long now before we see the end of the apartheid system. The dreams of millions of people to see our country free and at peace will be realized sooner rather than later. We Are determined to ensure that our country is transformed from being the Skunk of the world into an exemplary Oasis of unrivalled race relations democracy for All a just peace and Freedom from poverty and human he thanked those around the world who had clamoured for his release including the thousands who attended a a free Mandela concert at Wembley two years ago. A even through the thickness of the prison Walls. We heard your voices demanding our Freedom. During All the Days we spent buried in the apartheid dungeons we never lost our Confidence in the certainty of our release and our Victory Over the apartheid Mandela spoke warmly of Anc president Oliver Tambo who is in Sweden recovering from a stroke. Tambos wife Adelaide sat with the mandalas in the stadium s executive Box. A there is no Man in this country or anywhere else in the world who could have performed As magnificently in the past 10 years a Mandela said. As Mandela left the stage and Chapman started to sing a talking about a revolution a the huge crowd danced with Joy. Jackson praised Mandela at a news conference saying a the is in Good health. His vision is Clear his objectives Are Clear and he a gaining world the mandalas arrived about an hour after the concert started smiling and waving their fists in the air As the crowd cheered. They flew to London on sunday to attend the concert and left immediately after it was Over to Fly to Addis Ababa Ethiopia. Concert organizers said part of the proceeds will go to charities including Oxnam and save the children fund. They gave no estimate because the Sale of television rights was still under was
