Remembering Sharpeville: Commemorating a Turning Point in South African History

International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination March 21

Humanity, not racism!

The Sharpeville Massacre stands as a stark reminder of the brutality of apartheid-era South Africa and the courageous struggle for human rights. On March 21, 1960, 64 years ago the township of Sharpeville in South Africa’s Transvaal Province became the site of a tragic event that would reverberate across the globe.

Background of the Sharpeville Massacre:

Leading up to the massacre, South Africa was entrenched in a system of racial segregation enforced by the National Party government. Pass laws, designed to control the movement and employment of African South Africans, were used to enforce racial segregation and restrict the rights of black citizens. The African National Congress (ANC) and the Pan-Africanist Congress (PAC) prepared to protest against these oppressive laws, with the PAC initiating its campaign ten days prior to the scheduled ANC protest.

The Massacre Unfolds:

On March 21, 1960, thousands of people gathered in Sharpeville to protest against the pass laws, offering themselves up for arrest for not carrying their passbooks. The peaceful demonstration turned violent when police opened fire on the unarmed crowd, resulting in the deaths of 69 people and the injury of 180 others. The brutal crackdown shocked the world and marked a turning point in South Africa’s history.

The Sharpeville Massacre – standing up against racism

The immediate aftermath of the massacre saw widespread protests, strikes, and riots throughout South Africa. Internationally, there was condemnation of the apartheid regime, with the United Nations passing Resolution 134 in response to the massacre. In the years following the tragedy, March 21st became commemorated as Human Rights Day in South Africa, honoring the victims of Sharpeville and reaffirming the commitment to human rights.

Personal Reflections at the Grave Site:

At the grave site where the victims of the Sharpeville Massacre were buried, Satyagraha Tour of South Africa delegation leaders Lynnea Bylund, Tushar Gandhi and Arun Gandhi, offer reflections on the significance of the event during a SABC interview. Their presence underscores the importance of remembering and honoring the victims, as well as the ongoing struggle for justice and equality. The Satyagraha Tour delegation was led through the history by South African community members that lived through this horrific time.

Dr. Arun Gandhi laments the effects of capitalism.

June 9, 2018 | Sharpeville, South Africa | Arun Gandhi, Tushar Gandhi, Lynnea Bylund SABC News

Artistic and Literary Responses:

The Sharpeville Massacre has been immortalized in various forms of artistic expression, from poetry to paintings and musical compositions. Artists and writers continue to draw inspiration from the events of that fateful day, ensuring that the memory of the victims lives on and that their sacrifice is never forgotten.

The row of graves of the 69 people killed by police at the Sharpeville Police Station on March 21 1960.

Sharpeville massacre Part of apartheid. By Andrew Hall – Own work, CC BY-SA 4.0,

Location	Sharpeville, Transvaal Province, South Africa
Date	March 21, 1960; 64 years ago
Deaths	69
Injured	180
Assailants	South African Police

Conclusion:

The Sharpeville Massacre remains a defining moment in South Africa’s history, symbolizing the brutality of apartheid and the resilience of those who fought against it. As we commemorate this tragic event, let us remember the victims, honor their legacy, and continue the ongoing struggle for human rights and social justice.

Speech by President Mandela at the signing of the new post apartheid constitution in Sharpeville, Dec 10, 1996

Opening song Nkosi Sikelel’ iAfrika (“God Bless Africa”)

Additional Notes and References:

Wikipedia “Sharpeville massacre.”

South African Broadcasting Corporation (SABC) is the public broadcaster in South Africa, and provides 19 radio stations (AM/FM) as well as six television broadcasts to the general public. It is one of the largest of South Africa’s state-owned enterprises. Mahatma Gandhi’s grandson, Dr. Arun Gandhi, laments the effects of capitalism and says capitalism has brought misery and suffering around the world. Gandhi was speaking in Sharpeville where the Satyagraha Tour Delegation sponsored, Arun installed, the group collectively planted the tree in memory of fallen liberation heroes gunned down by apartheid police March 21, 1960. Video features Arun Gandhi, Tushar Gandhi, and Lynnea Bylund.

Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. led thousands of civil rights demonstrators on a 50+ mile walk from Selma to Montgomery, AL, demanding voting rights for African Americans March 21-25, 1965.

Lynnea is the Founder and President of Ahimsa Peace Institute a dba of Gandhi Worldwide Education Institute. She is a steward of Catalyst House since July 1999. January 17, 2007 Lynnea was issued an United States She served on the Board of Directors and Assistant Treasurer of Gandhi Worldwide Education Institute (GWEI) beginning in early 2010. GWEI has been in Consultative Status with the United Nations Economic and Social Council since July 23, 2015. Lynnea is the UN ECOSOC representative for the organization. She represented Arun Gandhi, and her company partnered with Arun in the Gandhi Legacy Tour company (2012-2019). The Universal Peace Federation recognized Ms. Bylund as an Ambassador for Peace on September 21, 2023 The United Nations International Day of Peace. She holds certifications from the United States Institute of Peace, Washington DC in Religious Engagement in Peacebuilding and Introduction to Peacebuilding. Lynnea authored “Health IS Wealth!” “Seeds of Lights, Plantings of Seeds of Love, Kindness and Compassion,” its companion “Seeds of Light” Nonviolent Tree Journal, and “Gandhi Legacy Tour of India The Book.”

She has four decades of experience in administration, marketing and business development. In the 1990’s she was a nationally recognized spokeswoman for the emerging alternative video and information delivery industries. During that time she founded two small business-based wireless trade associations and has lobbied on Capitol Hill and at the FCC where she has spoken out strongly against the cable TV monopoly, illegal spectrum warehousing and ill-conceived congressional schemes to auction our nation’s precious airwaves to the highest bidder. Ms. Bylund is a founder and former CEO of a Washington DC telecommunications consulting and management company with holdings in several operating and developmental wireless communications systems and companies. In 1995 Lynnea became the first female in the world to be awarded a Broadband PCS operating permit – she was one of only 18 winners, along with Sprint, AT&T, and Verizon in the biggest cash auction in world history, raising a whopping $7.7 billion. Lynnea, a key team member, pioneered the first wireless system in the South Seas (1992-1997), introducing distance learning in American Samoa. Partnering with American Samoa Community College, filed for ITFS licenses to offer essential courses and adult education to the community.