Hoyer Statement Marking 25th Anniversary of Nelson Mandela Being Freed

WASHINGTON, DC – House Democratic Whip Steny H. Hoyer (MD) released the following statement today marking the 25th anniversary of former South African President Nelson Mandela’s release from prison on February 11, 1990:

“Twenty-five years ago, Nelson Mandela took his first steps into freedom from captivity on Robben Island, where he had been held as a political prisoner for eighteen of his twenty-seven years behind bars.  Instead of bitterness toward his captors and those who had sent him to prison, he carried with him into freedom a determination to effect peaceful, nonviolent change and to promote tolerance toward all.  Today we remember an inspiring leader and extraordinary champion of hope, who endured so much suffering to achieve equality in South Africa and promote peace and justice around the world.”