South Africa Women’s Day: Aug. 9, 1956-1986 30th Anniversary

This button was created by the Toronto-based South African Women’s Day Committee for a rally they organized on August 9th 1986 to mark the 30th anniversary of South African Women’s Day. On that date in 1956, 20,000 women of all races from across South Africa came together and marched to Pretoria to protest the issuing of the pass law to Black women in South Africa. It was one of the most memorable demonstrations in the history of the South African fight against apartheid. The 1986 commemoration also recognized the contributions, courage and determination of South African women over years of struggle for a just society. Solidarity with the women of South Africa was also part of the Toronto 1986 International Women’s Day theme “Women Say No to Racism.”