Atlanta sit-ins

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Date	March 15, 1960 – March 17, 1960
Location	Atlanta, Georgia, United States
Caused by
Objectives
Methods	Sit-in, nonviolent resistance
Resulted in	Increased awareness and support for desegregation
Concessions

The Atlanta Sit-ins were a series of nonviolent protests that took place in March 1960 in Atlanta, Georgia, as part of the broader Civil Rights Movement in the United States. These sit-ins were organized by students from the Atlanta University Center, a consortium of historically black colleges and universities, and were aimed at challenging the segregationist policies of local businesses.

Background

The sit-in movement began on February 1, 1960, when four African American students from North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University sat at a "whites-only" lunch counter at a Woolworth's store in Greensboro, North Carolina. This act of civil disobedience inspired similar protests across the South, including in Atlanta.

In Atlanta, the movement was spearheaded by students from the Atlanta University Center, which includes Morehouse College, Spelman College, Clark Atlanta University, Morris Brown College, Interdenominational Theological Center, and Morehouse School of Medicine. These students were motivated by the desire to end racial segregation in public spaces and to assert their rights as citizens.

The Sit-ins

The Atlanta Sit-ins began on March 15, 1960, when students entered several downtown Atlanta establishments, including department stores and restaurants, and requested service at "whites-only" counters. The students were trained in nonviolent resistance techniques and were prepared to face arrest without retaliating.

The sit-ins were met with resistance from store owners and local authorities. Many students were arrested for trespassing and disturbing the peace. However, the sit-ins drew significant media attention and garnered support from both local and national civil rights organizations.

Key Figures

Several prominent figures were involved in the Atlanta Sit-ins, including:

• Lonnie King, a student leader from Morehouse College who played a crucial role in organizing the protests.
• Julian Bond, a student at Morehouse College who later became a prominent civil rights leader and politician.
• John Lewis, a student at American Baptist Theological Seminary who participated in the sit-ins and later became a key figure in the Civil Rights Movement.

Impact

The Atlanta Sit-ins were instrumental in raising awareness about the injustices of segregation and the need for change. They helped to galvanize support for the Civil Rights Movement and inspired further actions across the country.

In response to the sit-ins, negotiations were initiated between student leaders and city officials, leading to some desegregation of public facilities in Atlanta. The sit-ins also highlighted the power of student activism and the effectiveness of nonviolent protest.

Legacy

The Atlanta Sit-ins are remembered as a pivotal moment in the struggle for civil rights in the United States. They demonstrated the courage and determination of young African Americans to challenge systemic racism and demand equality.

The sit-ins also laid the groundwork for future civil rights actions, including the Freedom Rides and the March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom.

See also

• Greensboro sit-ins
• Nashville sit-ins
• Civil Rights Movement
• Martin Luther King Jr.

References

• Chafe, William H. Civilities and Civil Rights: Greensboro, North Carolina, and the Black Struggle for Freedom. Oxford University Press, 1980.
• Sitkoff, Harvard. The Struggle for Black Equality. Hill and Wang, 1981.

External links

• Civil Rights Movement Veterans
• The King Center