Forty-five years after Police shot and killed 69 unarmed protesters in the Sharpeville Township in South Africa, Bermudians showed their support during a special memorial service at City Hall yesterday.

The Sharpeville Massacre, as the event has become known, signalled the start of armed resistance in South Africa, and prompted worldwide condemnation of South Africa's Apartheid policies.

In 1966, the United Nations declared March 21 as the "International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination" in commemoration of the 1960 tragedy.

The Commission for Unity and Racial Equality (CURE) plans this annual community observance to commemorate this day.

This year some 150 people attended the function, which took place on the steps of City Hall yesterday afternoon.

Joy Barnum of the Bermuda Idols sang the South African national anthem, "God Bless Africa", and the Present Truth Seventh Day Adventists' Men's Choral Group sang "Unity".

This years' commemoration included an exhibit: A stroll through Bermuda's socio-cultural experiences and commitment to race issues.

Entries from the CURE Creativity Competition, "Racial Equality ? yesterday, today and tomorrow", were on display and contestants were invited to read, display or perform their pieces during a reception after the initial function.

Students participating in the exhibit included Cushai Ming of CedarBridge, Kilian Rentrup of Somersfield Academy, Jessica Rego of Bermuda High School for Girls, Jonathan Jervis of Bermuda Institute and Danielle Eatherlery of Mount Saint Agnes.

As part of its ongoing awareness initiatives, CURE, in collaboration with the Bermuda Government's Department of Tourism and Amistad America, will be hosting a series of public conversation workshops in May this year.