Sharpeville Massacre
Verified
Date
March 21, 1960
Type
National
Author
anupjishnu
Location
Vanderbijlpark,
Gauteng,
South Africa
Categories
Social & Civil Rights
Event Details
On March 21, 1960, South African police opened fire on a crowd who were peacefully protesting apartheid pass laws in Sharpeville, killing 69 people and injuring many more.
This tragic event highlighted the brutality of the apartheid regime and galvanized both local and international opposition to racial segregation in South Africa. The massacre drew international condemnation of Apartheid and led the ANC (Mandela's party) to abandon non-violence in favor of armed struggle.