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Historical context : The installation of a pro-white regime :

From 1949 till 1954, South Africa set up a series of laws of Apartheid with the institutionalization of white supremacy.

For example, a law against mixed marriage in 1949 or a law on the internal passport in 1952.

In 1960, the country toppled over and progressively fell into violence.
 

The massacre of Sharpeville, a demonstration which turned into a tragedy:

On March 18^th, 1960, Robert Sobukwe, president of the Pan-African Congress, called to demonstrations in the whole country on March 21^st to protest against the internal passports and  for the increase of the basic remuneration of the working day.

The purpose was to occupy the police station so that they would be fast overwhelmed and unable to undertake arrests or imprisonment. 

On March 21^st ,1960 in Sharpeville, a township located in some dozens kilometres in the South of Johannesburg, policemen shot at demonstrators in majority children, women and old people during a peaceful demonstration.
 

In total the police slaughtered 69 demonstrators and wounded 180 people at least, the great majority of them were touched in the back while they were trying to run away, charged by the policemen.

My impression : To what extent this event marked me:

For me, this event is important because it has an impact on the country in an uprising against the abrogation of freedom by the government but especially to protest against these acts of violence made towards them.

This disaster is impressive because it is going to change the course of history of the country having repercussions on the future with other demonstrations always more violent.

Why this event shocked me:

For me, I think that seeing white policemen who shoot at black people without a justification of this act is very shocking.

I consider this reaction appalling on behalf of policemen who defend themselves with guns while they then had the possibility of using much less important means as water hoses.

I find this putting out that whites shoot at coloured people because in the opposite case, they do not shoot against white protesters.

I find this scandalous that South Africa is the first country to use weapons facing black demonstrators during a calm meeting in a country with supremacy for whites.