The Soweto Youth Uprising Chinedu Izuchukwu De’arius Mapp

The Protest  The Soweto Uprising, also known as 16 June, was a series of protests led by high school students in South Africa that began on the morning of 16 June  On the morning of 16 June 1976, between 10,000 and 20,000[14] black students walked from their schools to Orlando Stadium for a rally to protest against having to learn through Afrikaans in school. The government found out about the event that was going to take place and ordered a blockade so the students had find another route.  The crowds began to sing songs as they were walking, as shots were fired in the air many students began to run and panic and the south African police released police dogs upon them. Many students were shot and killed.  The events of the riot outraged many other students from different cities in south Africa. Riots formed in different cities and estimated students died from August- September.

Perceived Injustice  Students from numerous Soweto schools began to protest in the streets of Soweto in response to the introduction of Afrikaans as the medium of instruction in local schools, by the south African government. This angered the students and parents, because many Sowetan children was already used to English as their main language in schools.

Actions in the Event  The crowd of between 3,000 and 10,000 students made their way from different schools to Orlando stadium.  An Officer by the name Colonel Kleingeld drew his handgun and fired a shot, causing panic and chaos.  The police released their dogs on the children, who responded by stoning the dogs to death. The police then began to shoot directly at the children.  One of the first students to be shot dead was 13- year-old Hector Pieterson.

Success  It announced the determination of the youth to end one of the most barbaric examples of modern capitalist slavery.  It brought together different race and people to set aside their differences and focus on the education of their children.  It showed the value of education to south African students  Zkg29E

Compare and Contrast Civil Disobedience  the refusal to comply with certain laws or to pay taxes and fines, as a peaceful form of political protest. Soweto Civil Disobedience  Sowetan were comfortable with speaking English in the schools and the government tried to force them to learn Afrikaans

Civil disobedience “yes or no  Yes I believe the Soweto uprising was an act of civil disobedience because the felt like the government wasn't right for forcing all black schools to using Afrikaans(language) for all 5 major subjects except: science and other practical subjects like (home craft, needlework, woodwork, metalwork, art, agricultural science and etc.).

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