June 16, 1978, 10,000 South African children walked out of school and led a protest in Soweto. The apartheid government passed a law stating students could only learn in English and Afrikaans (a daughter language of Dutch). The Bantu students, who mostly spoke Zulu, led a protest.

They were confronted by police, and after skirmishes, were open fired upon. The shooting by police led to riots that would last for two days until 1,500 armed police officers put down the riots.

In the end, close to 500 were killed in the protest (mostly black students).

Today June 16 is celebrated as Youth Day in SA.

Via Abby Ross