the sharpeville massacre was when a crowd of between 5,000 and 7,000 black people protested at the police station in sharpeville, south africa on march 21, 1960. the police started shooting into the crowd. a total of 69 people were killed including 8 women and 10 children, and 180 people were injured, including 31 women and 19 children. in south africa today, this day is a public holiday in honor of human rights.