On this day in 1990, massive crowds gathered throughout South Africa to celebrate the release of the nation’s beloved Nelson Mandela.
It marked a momentous occasion and an even more significant moment for Mandela, a vocal and empowering leader who, because of these same traits, had been imprisoned for 27 years and was finally freed.
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Take a look at some of the images below and see the people and iconic public places in South Africa honoring Mandela:
