Soweto uprising
The Soweto uprising (or Soweto riots) was a series of demonstrations and protests led by black school children in South Africa during apartheid that began on the morning of 16 June 1976.
| Soweto uprising | |
|---|---|
| Part of apartheid | |
Hector Pieterson being carried by Mbuyisa Makhubo after being shot by the South African police. His sister, Antoinette Sithole, runs beside them. Pieterson was rushed to a local clinic where he was declared dead on arrival. This photo by Sam Nzima became an icon of the Soweto uprising. | |
| Location | Soweto, South Africa |
| Date | 16–18 June 1976 |
| Deaths | Minimum of 176 with some estimates ranging up to 700 |
| Injured | 1,000+ |
| Victims | Students |
| Assailants | South African Police |
| Part of a series on |
| Apartheid |
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Students from various schools began to protest in the streets of the Soweto township in response to the introduction of Afrikaans, considered by many blacks as the "language of the oppressor", as the medium of instruction in black schools. It is estimated that 20,000 students took part in the protests. They were met with fierce police brutality, and many were shot and killed. The number of pupils killed in the uprising is usually estimated as 176, but some sources estimate as many as 700 fatalities. The riots were a key moment in the fight against apartheid as it sparked renewed opposition against apartheid in South Africa both domestically and internationally. In remembrance of these events, 16 June is a public holiday in South Africa since 1991, named Youth Day. Internationally, 16 June is known as The Day of the African Child (DAC).