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Today in History: Four Students Launch Historic Sit-In Against Segregation

2/1/2026

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Summary

Story summary

On February 1, 1960, four African-American students initiated a series of sit-ins at a Woolworth lunch counter in Greensboro, North Carolina, protesting racial segregation. This pivotal act sparked a broader sit-in movement, leading to significant changes in civil rights legislation and the eventual formation of the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee (SNCC).

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Story summary

On February 1, 1960, four African-American students initiated a series of sit-ins at a Woolworth lunch counter in Greensboro, North Carolina, protesting racial segregation. This pivotal act sparked a broader sit-in movement, leading to significant changes in civil rights legislation and the eventual formation of the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee (SNCC).