Apartheid Quote by Oliver Tambo
“The sanctions will not kill us. It's apartheid that's killing us.”
About This Quote
Source Speech: Anti‑Apartheid Rally, 1985, South Africa
Sanctions alone won’t defeat oppression; systemic apartheid is the true cause of suffering.
In simple terms: Sanctions insufficient; apartheid kills.
Key Takeaway
Combat systemic injustice.
Themes
human rights
oppression
political struggle
Mood
determined
urgent
Type
political
activist
When to use this quote
- policy advocacy
- grassroots organizing
- international diplomacy
- education campaigns
Key Concepts
apartheid
economic pressure
social justice
Questions to Reflect On
- How can we combine sanctions with broader resistance?
- What alternatives exist to dismantle oppressive systems?
A Different Perspective
Sanctions can still have strategic value despite limitations.
![“We [ with Brian Mulroney and Rajiv Gandhi] went to the meeting in Canada [the 1987 Vancouver CHOGM] and I said to them there that sanctions weren't working; they were just being busted. And it did seem to me that one way that we could bring the apartheid regime down would be if we did mount an…” quote by Bob Hawke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/66c/bob-hawke-7891_apartheid_we-with-brian-mulroney-and-rajiv-gandhi_109260.jpg)
![“I assumed the leadership within the Commonwealth for the fight against apartheid. I was very much assisted by Brian Mulroney, the Prime Minister of Canada, [and] Rajiv Gandhi, when he became the Prime Minister of India. And there were trade sanctions.” quote by Bob Hawke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/d80/bob-hawke-7891_apartheid_i-assumed-the-leadership-within-the-comm_2668686.jpg)
