Define the Sharpeville massacre.

The Sharpeville massacre was a tragic event that occurred on March 21, 1960, in the township of Sharpeville, South Africa. Thousands of black South Africans gathered at the local police station to protest against the apartheid pass laws, which required black individuals to carry identification documents at all times. The protest turned violent when police opened fire on the crowd, killing 69 people and injuring over 180 others. The Sharpeville massacre was a turning point in the struggle against apartheid and sparked international condemnation of the South African government's racist policies.