Today in Labor History June 16, 1976: 20,000 students protested in Soweto South Africa, against the requirement that they learn the Afrikaans language in their schools. They considered Afrikaans to be the language of the brutally racist and repressive Apartheid regime. The uprising spread to seven other black townships and became known as the Soweto Uprising. The police responded by shooting directly into the crowds of children and teachers. Official reports claim that the police killed the 176 people, mostly children. However, some estimate that over 700 were killed. By the end of the year, thousands had died in demonstrations throughout the country.

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