The 소웨토 봉기 (Soweto Uprising) occurred on June 16, 1976, in Soweto, a township near Johannesburg, South Africa. It was a protest by black students against the mandatory use of the Afrikaans language in schools, which they viewed as a symbol of the oppressive apartheid regime. The uprising began peacefully but escalated when police opened fire on the demonstrators, resulting in numerous casualties. The event sparked widespread outrage and protests across South Africa, drawing international attention to the injustices of apartheid. The Soweto Uprising became a pivotal moment in the struggle against apartheid, inspiring further resistance and ultimately contributing to the regime's downfall in the early 1990s.