Youth Day

Today is Youth Day in South Africa.  On this day in 1976 students in Soweto (Johannesburg) protested the mandate that their classes be conducted in the Afrikaans language.  Many innocent children and teenagers lost their lives in the resulting battle called the Soweto Uprising. 

Photo Source: Fair Use

This iconic picture of a fatally wounded 12-year-old boy named Hector Pieterson became known around the world.  After firing teargas at the protesting students, police opened fire on the crowd, killing and wounding many.  More than 500 people died and it is estimated that over 1,000 were wounded in the uprising. 

Youth Day honors those that lost their lives in this stand against Apartheid.

For more information about Youth Day, Hector Pieterson and the Soweto Uprising visit these links:
http://africanhistory.about.com/od/apartheid/a/Soweto-Uprising-Pt1.htm
http://www.southafrica.info/about/history/hector-pieterson.htm
http://aglobalworld.com/holidays-around-the-world/youth-day-south-africa/
http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,911814,00.html
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Soweto_uprising