African Activist Archive

The mailing discusses the Soweto student protest against the minority government's attempt to impose teaching in the Afrikaans language. This action kicked off one of the major rebellions against apartheid since the Sharpeville Massacre of March 21, 1960. In response, the South African Government has killed more than 600 students, injured hundreds, arrested 3,000, and forced 2,000 students into exile. International solidarity with the South African struggle has been expressed in picket lines, demonstrations, and teach-ins denouncing the racist South African Government, and calling for Black majority rule. The Organization for African Unity (OAU) has called for international solidarity actions, and major leaders of the Soweto Student Representative Council, including Tsietsi Mashinini and Khotso Seatlholo, have signed an international appeal "calling upon the progressive peoples of the world to mark this anniversary by demonstrating their solidarity with the oppressed people of South Africa ..." The March 26th Coalition and United Peoples' Campaign Against Apartheid and Racism (UPCAAR) are sponsoring a commemoration service on June 16, 1977 and demonstration and rally on June 18.

African Activist Archive

[Dear Friend, On June 16, 1976, more than 10,000 high school students, led by the Soweto Student Representative Council, protested the minority government's attempt …]

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