Robert Sobukwe, the leader of the Pan Africanist Congress (PAC), made history on March 21, 1960, by leading a peaceful protest against apartheid in South Africa. Despite facing immense risks, Sobukwe and his followers gathered at the Orlando police station in Soweto, demanding to be arrested for not carrying the required passes.
However, elsewhere in Sharpeville, a peaceful protest turned deadly when police opened fire on the crowd, killing at least 91 people and injuring 281 others. This tragic event, known as the Sharpeville massacre, shook the nation and sparked international condemnation.
Sobukwe, who had warned the police against violence, was devastated by the news of the massacre. He remained committed to his ideals of nonviolence and African unity, despite the harsh response of the apartheid government.
Following the Sharpeville massacre, the ANC and PAC were banned, and Sobukwe was imprisoned under a controversial amendment known as the Sobukwe clause. Even after his release, he faced restrictions on his movements and political activities until his death from lung cancer in 1978.
Despite the challenges he faced, Sobukwe’s legacy as a visionary leader who believed in the power of humanity and nonviolent change continues to inspire people in South Africa and beyond. On the 100th anniversary of his birth, his contributions to the struggle for freedom and justice are remembered and honored.
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