21 March 1960: Sharpeville Massacre
On March 21, 1960, South African police opened fire on a crowd of unarmed Black protesters in the township of Sharpeville, killing 69 people and wounding 180 others in an event that shocked the world and galvanized international opposition to apartheid.
The protesters had gathered at the local police station as part of a campaign against pass laws—regulations requiring Black South Africans to carry identification documents at all times, restricting their movement and employment. The Pan Africanist Congress had organized peaceful demonstrations nationwide, urging people to present themselves at police stations without their passes.
By midday, between 5,000 and 7,000 demonstrators had assembled outside the Sharpeville station. Though the crowd was peaceful, police grew increasingly nervous. Without warning, officers opened fire directly into the mass of people. The shooting lasted less than two minutes, but 705 rounds were fired.
Most victims were shot in the back while fleeing. The dead included women and children.
The massacre provoked international outrage. The United Nations condemned the killings, and protests erupted worldwide. South Africa declared a state of emergency, banning anti-apartheid organizations and arresting thousands.
Sharpeville marked a turning point. The African National Congress, previously committed to nonviolent resistance, concluded that peaceful protest alone could not end apartheid. March 21 is now commemorated in South Africa as Human Rights Day.