CRQ Set 2: Protests in South Africa (1976) and China (1989)

Riots Climax in South Africa, June 19, 1976

...Police in white-ruled South Africa used automatic weapons against black rioters and military reservists were placed on alert yesterday, the third day of the nation's bloodiest racial uprising.

Government spokesmen claimed last night that police were in control and the riots were subsiding.

Unofficial reports said at least 101 persons were killed and more than 1,000 were injured in the revolt sparked by student demonstrations against a rule requiring that some courses be taught in the whites' Afrikaans language.

Scores of shops, beer halls, government buildings, schools and cars were set ablaze in at least seven black townships as the demonstrations grew into a violent protest against South Africa's racial policies.

The townships serve as segregated residential areas for blacks who travel in buses and trains daily to work in zones reserved for whites.

Government officials did not release updated casualty figures after confirming 58 dead and 788 wounded yesterday morning. Separate death reports indicated the total was higher....

AN: Who were the Tiananmen Square protesters? SN: Many of the protesters were young college students. Most were from Beijing, but some were students who came from other states in China. There were also many people in China who didn't take part in the demonstrations but believed in the same things the students were protesting for.

AN: Why were the students protesting? SN: The students felt the government was wronging the citizens of China in many ways. They were protesting against their government for freedom and democracy. Citizens everywhere supported the students because they did not support the government either.

AN: What kinds of changes did you want to see the government make? SN: Back then, the government was very strict with us. We weren't allowed to do many things we wanted to. We did not have the right from the First Amendment to free speech [like in the United States]. Openly criticizing the government would have consequences. I had to be careful about what I said. I would have liked to see the government give us more freedom. Censorship was really big in China, especially with news-related topics. Also, when I was at school, a lot of what we were taught was biased toward the Communists. We were told to praise the Communist party and believe what the government told us.

AN: What is your opinion of the government calling in the military to break up the protests? SN: I thought it was very wrong for the government to use military force on its own people. The students were peacefully protesting and were not causing any violent trouble. The government could have compromised or at least listened to what the students had to say. After this terrible event happened, no one wanted to do anything that would put them in danger again.