The 1960 Sharpeville Massacre

The 1960 Sharpeville Massacre occurred in South Africa when police opened fire on a peaceful protest of black residents protesting pass laws that controlled their movement. During the demonstration, police killed 69 people and wounded many others. The incident highlighted the brutal enforcement of apartheid, a system of racial segregation. It drew international condemnation, increased anti-apartheid activism, and marked a turning point that led some groups, like the African National Congress, to pursue more radical strategies for ending racial discrimination. The massacre remains a significant symbol of resistance against racial oppression in South Africa's history.