PROTEST AGAINST RIVONIA: TRIAL IN BRISTOL from Tom Nicholls
Two dozen people carrying banners, drawing attention to the Rivonia trial, kept a silent vigil outside Bristol's Council on Wednesday, May 20th, Miss Joan Bell, secretary of the Bristol Africa Circle, said that the demonstration had been arranged after the circle had been addressed by Mr. Narney Desai, president of the South African Coloured People's Congress. Dr. Ronald Sampson, of Bristol University, told the press: "We are here to protest against the trial and to express our detestation of aprtheid and affirm our conviction that justice for all peoples of ‘South Africa must ultimately prevail." He said that there was a real danger that the 9 defendants would hang. Miss Bell said that the aim of the demonstration was to help to influence the outcome of the trial.
A London correspondent reports that the Park Royal branch of the ETU passed, at its last meeting, a unanimous resolution that expressed grave concern at the death sentences and imprisonment meted out to trade unionists and others in South Africa. The resolution called upon the Prime Minister to use his influence to obtain the release of these political prisoners.