Nelson Mandela: Supreme Court, Pretoria, 1964

Conclusion of Nelson Mandela’s court statement at the opening of his trial on charges of sabotage, Supreme Court of South Africa, Pretoria, April 20 1964.

You can find the full transcript on the Guardian newspaper site.

I have fought against white domination, and I have fought against black domination. I have cherished the ideal of a democratic and free society in which all persons live together in harmony and with equal opportunities. It is an ideal which I hope to live for and to achieve. But if needs be, it is an ideal for which I am prepared to die.