MARCH 27, 1867
In one of the nation’s first sit-ins, a group of Black men boarded a “whites-only” streetcar in Charleston, South Carolina, sitting among the white passengers. The conductor ordered them to move. They stayed. The police ordered them to move. They stayed. The driver unhitched the horses and left the streetcar.
Protests expanded beyond the single line, and police arrested 11. The continuing protests led Black residents to win the right to ride in the streetcars. Their victory expanded in June when the discrimination of railroads, horse-cars and steamboats were also banned.
The post On this day in 1867 appeared first on Mississippi Today.
Mississippi Today is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) news and media company with a forward-facing mission of civic engagement and public dialog through service journalism, live events and digital outreach. Our newsroom is dedicated to providing Mississippians with reporting that inspires active interest in their state and equips them to engage in community life. Mississippi Today’s news stories are republished here under a Creative Commons license.
Latest posts by Mississippi Today (see all)
- Senate confirms Gov. Tate Reeves’ economic development chief despite report of toxic workplace, claims of harassment - April 24, 2024
- Her grandfather helped bring Medicaid to Mississippi 55 years ago. Today, she’s pushing for expansion. - April 24, 2024
- Marshall Ramsey: Waiting Room - April 24, 2024