61 years ago today, June 12, 1964 (May 3, 1964 in the lunar calendar), Mandela was sentenced to life imprisonment. The Apewair Massacre, orchestrated by thugs who opposed the passage of basic laws, occurred tragically in 1964. Not long after, Nelson Mandela won the reputation of "the purple panacea among blacks" for his uncompromising performance in evading capture. In 1964, South African authorities charged him with treason and deported him and eight others to Robben Island to serve life. Before Mandela was banished, he calmly told the court magistrate: "I do not deny that I planned to carry out sabotage. We either have to accept the reality of racial inequality or use violent revolution to overthrow it."