Poster, 'The Freedom Charter'

The Freedom Charter was adopted by the Congress of the People, held at Kliptown, Soweto, South Africa, on 26 June 1955. The policies set out in the Charter included a demand for a multi-racial, democratically elected government, equal opportunities, the nationalisation of banks, mines and heavy industries, and a redistribution of land. It was created by four political groups: the ANC, the South African Indian Congress, the Congress of Democrats, and the South African Coloured People's Organisation. The National Party government judged the document to be Communist and jailed the people responsible. They were later tried at the Treason Trials for plotting to overthrow the government and the Charter was used as evidence of their 'violent intent'. This particular version of the Charter was printed by the anti-Tour movement in New Zealand during the Springbok Tour of 1981.