There was a series of lunch counter sit-ins for black high school students fighting the segregation laws all over the country. On July 1st a group of 20 students in Fredericksburg sat at lunch counters sitting quietly reading books, while waiting for services. Demonstrations were not held at three local chain stores; Woolworth’s, Grant’s, and People’s. Some students read the Bible, and were harming no one during the orderly demonstrations [1]. A group of Negro youths say they are “fighting for complete integration” whether or not the passive demonstrations will continue to sit-in at other eating places in the city will be determined [2].
A black girl, Jerine Mercer, who identified herself as a spokesman for the group, said that the sit-ins had no official connection with Walker-Grant High School or any other organization [3]. The students protesting just wanted equality in schooling.
Here is the general timeline of events:
- On July 1st, eight black students took seats at lunch counters in Woolworth’s and Grant’s, and counters were closed at both places. They were kept from sitting down in the store People’s by white people who quickly took the available seats when the group entered. The police observed that the afternoon demonstrations needed no arrests, unless a trespass complain was filed by a store [4].
- On July 2nd, the group of black high school students resume sit-ins at both Woolworth’s and Grant’s. The officials of the two local chain stores said “they have been instructed by main offices to close down counters in event of the sit-ins [5].
- On July 6th, store managers of the chain stores where the group has been sitting in, said today it is the policy of their firms to follow local custom. After the sit-ins began, one counter -Grant’s- was closed and roped off [6].
- The Woolworth and Grant’s stores dropped the color restriction quietly by prearrangement at 4:00 p.m. Saturday. A group of seven adults sat down and were served simultaneously, four at Woolworth’s and three at Grant’s, after receiving indications of the change in policy. People’s Service Drug Store across the street, Manager W.D. Southworth said today there has been no change of policy and Negroes are not being served at the store’s lunch counter[7].
Manager V.R. Catts of Woolworth’s said:
“We are pleased and feel it is now appropriate to announce the operation of our food department on a desegregated basis”[8].
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Works Cited:
[1]. The Free Lance Star. (1960, July 5). Continued sit-ins mark weekend. The Free Lance Star [Fredericksburg].
[2]. The Free Lance Star. (1960, August 1). Quiet switch in policy: 2 lunch counters here offer service to negroes. The Free Lance Star [Fredericksburg].
[3]. Continued sit-ins mark weekend. (July 5).
[4]. The Free Lance Star. (1960, July 2). Group resumes sit-ins here at downtown lunch counters. The Free Lance Star[Fredericksburg]; Continued sit-ins mark weekend. (July 5).
[5]. Group resumes sit-ins here at downtown lunch counters. (July 2)
[6]. Walsh, T. (1960, July 6). Sit-ins at stores set indefinitely. The Free Lance Star [Fredericksburg].
[7]. The Free Lance Star. (1960, August 1). Quiet switch in policy: 2 lunch counters here offer service to negroes. The Free Lance Star [Fredericksburg].
[8]. Quiet switch in policy: 2 lunch counters here offer service to negroes. (August 1).
F., & V. (n.d.). [Sit-in at Woolworth’s lunch counter: Tallahassee, Florida]. Retrieved from https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/1/1e/Sit-in_at_Woolworth%27s_lunch_counter-_Tallahassee%2C_Florida_%286941222253%29.jpg