Event    From 21/3/1960  To 21/3/1960

Sharpeville Massacre

Categories: Race Issues, Tragedy

Countries: South Africa

This took place near the police station in the South African township of Sharpeville in Transvaal (today part of Gauteng). After a day of demonstrations against pass laws (these were an internal passport system, designed to segregate the population), a crowd of about 5,000 to 7,000 black protesters went to the station where the police opened fire on them, killing 69 people. Sources disagree as to the behaviour of the crowd; some state that the crowd was peaceful, while others said they had been hurling stones at the police, and that the shooting started when they began advancing towards the fence around the station. Since 1994, 21st March has been commemorated as Human Rights Day in South Africa.

Credit for this entry to: Alan Patient of www.plaquesoflondon.co.uk

Comments are provided by Facebook, please ensure you are signed in here to see them

This section lists the memorials where the subject on this page is commemorated:
Sharpeville Massacre

Commemorated ati

Sharpeville Massacre

{On the large plaque with an image of protesters on a map of Africa:} Sharpev...

Read More

Other Subjects

Joaquim Nabuco

Joaquim Nabuco

Writer and statesman. Born Joaquim Aurélio Barreto Nabuco de Araújo in Recife, Brazil. In 1878 he began to fight against slavery through his political activity and writings. It was eventually aboli...

Person, Literature, Politics & Administration, Race Issues, Brazil, USA

1 memorial
William Hesketh Lever, 1st Viscount Leverhulme

William Hesketh Lever, 1st Viscount Leverhulme

Soap magnate and philanthropist, founder of Port Sunlight, near Liverpool. Born 6 Wood Street, Bolton, Lancashire. Known for his patronage of the arts and paternalistic social policies, he was also...

Person, Industry, Philanthropy, Race Issues

1 memorial
Black History Walks

Black History Walks

Black History Walks offer guided Walking Tours London to include the African history of London.

Group, History, Race Issues, Tourism / Traditions

6 memorials
Albert Woodfox

Albert Woodfox

Albert Woodfox was an American known as one of the Angola Three (Robert King, Herman Wallace and Woodfox) former prisoners who were held at Louisiana State Penitentiary in solitary confinement for ...

Person, Law, Race Issues, Tragedy, USA

1 memorial
George Alexander Gratton

George Alexander Gratton

Born on the Caribbean island of St. Vincent in 1808 to slave parents. Born with vitiligo, also known as piebaldism he was, as a baby, put on show in the capital, Kingstown. Aged 15 months he was ta...

Person, Children, Race Issues, Caribbean Islands

1 memorial

Previously viewed

London Charterhouse

London Charterhouse

Carthusian priory, founded by Sir Walter Manny and Bishop Michael Northburg of London. Inhabited by 25 monks. The priory was suppressed in 1538 (re: Dissolution of the Monesteries) and the land pas...

Building, Religion

2 memorials
Patricia Margaret Emery

Patricia Margaret Emery

One of the 11 "children of England" present on 7th July 1933 when The Princess Royal laid a foundation stone for a nurses home for the Great Ormond Street Children's Hospital.

Person, Children

1 memorial