Soweto uprising
Johannesburg student protest
The Soweto uprising was a 1976 protest in South Africa where Black students demonstrated against mandatory Afrikaans instruction in schools.
Police fired on the crowd, killing hundreds and sparking nationwide unrest.
The event became a turning point in resistance to apartheid: The Soweto uprising galvanized international opposition to the regime.
June 16 is now a South African public holiday.
- 1976Year after '75
- June 16Early summer calendar date
- apartheidRacial separation policy
- racial segregationSeparation by ethnic background
- anti-apartheid movementStruggle against institutionalized racial segregation
Nelson Mandela · police brutality · armored vehicles · Steve Biko · students · Afrikaans · protests · Freedom Charter · resistance · education · African National Congress · defiance · demonstration · black consciousness · forced removals · racial hierarchy · massacre · youth
Soweto uprisingnegotiated settlement
Agreement reached through dialogue
nonviolent resistance · Salt March · Velvet Revolution · civil disobedience · diplomatic engagement