In South Africa the month of June is known as “youth month” in recognition of the series of protests called the Soweto uprising led by school children on 16 June 1976. On that day, more than 20 000 protesters were met with severe police brutality. It is estimated that 700 school children died and more than a 1000 were injured. The aftermath of this historic event was wide and led to the start of the fall of the apartheid regime.
IAM salutes the brave young souls who stood up to an inferior education system, paying a high cost so that future generations could have an equal opportunity to education and justice. Their struggle paved the way for a democracy where the rights of marginalised people - children, women, people of colour, LGBTI people – can be protected and celebrated.
June 2019 is also the 50th anniversary of the
Stonewall uprising of 1969 in New York. Since then the LGBTI movement has grown into a global movement.
In remembering these historic moments of resistance, we not only acknowledge those who risked their lives so that we can today embrace and embody our truth, but we are also inspired to step up and contribute to the liberation and equality of all people and to work towards a truly inclusive future.
