Atlanta sit-ins facts for kids

The Atlanta sit-ins were a series of peaceful protests. They happened in Atlanta, Georgia, United States. These sit-ins were part of the larger Civil Rights Movement. This movement worked to end unfair treatment based on race.

Students from the Atlanta University Center organized these protests. They formed a group called the Committee on Appeal for Human Rights. The idea for the sit-ins came from the Greensboro sit-ins. Those protests started a month earlier in Greensboro, North Carolina. Their goal was to end segregation at lunch counters. Segregation meant keeping Black and white people separate. The Atlanta protests lasted for almost a year. Finally, an agreement was made to desegregate the lunch counters.

What Caused the Atlanta Sit-ins?

In February 1960, the Civil Rights Movement was growing. Four African American college students in Greensboro, North Carolina started a protest. They sat at a segregated lunch counter and refused to leave. This event began the Greensboro sit-ins.

These sit-ins inspired similar actions across the Southern United States. This became known as the sit-in movement. In Atlanta, students from six historically black colleges and universities decided to act. They began planning their own protests.

Student leaders Julian Bond and Lonnie C. King Jr. from Morehouse College pushed for sit-ins. Before starting, they met with college presidents. The presidents supported the sit-ins. But they asked the students to announce their plans in writing first.

Soon after, the students formed the Committee on Appeal for Human Rights (COAHR). Lonnie King and Spelman College student Herschelle Sullivan led this group. They wrote a document called An Appeal for Human Rights.

This appeal was published in Atlanta newspapers on March 9, 1960. In the document, students spoke out against segregation. They promised to use "legal and nonviolent means" to gain full rights.

Some leaders, like Georgia Governor Ernest Vandiver, criticized the appeal. But Atlanta Mayor William B. Hartsfield thanked the students for sharing their views.

How Did the Protests Happen?

The sit-ins began on March 15, 1960. About 200 students took part. They targeted places like cafeterias in Atlanta City Hall and the Georgia State Capitol. Students also went to the cafeteria at Terminal Station.

Overall, ten lunch counters and cafeterias were targeted. Police arrested 77 students, including Julian Bond. But the protests remained peaceful. The organizers called them a success. They paused the sit-ins to talk with Atlanta business leaders. However, these talks did not lead to a quick agreement. Sit-ins continued until May, then paused for summer break.

Protest planning started again in late summer 1960. This was when classes resumed. COAHR decided to hold more sit-ins in October. They wanted to get national attention during the 1960 U.S. presidential election.

In April 1960, a new group formed. It was called the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee (SNCC). This group set up its main office in Atlanta. COAHR then worked with SNCC to plan larger protests.

In early October, Lonnie King asked Martin Luther King Jr. to join. They hoped his presence would bring more attention. Martin Luther King Jr. agreed. On October 19, he joined a large wave of sit-ins.

Martin Luther King Jr. and Lonnie King went to the lunch counter at Rich's department store. Both were arrested. In total, 50 protestors were arrested that day. Martin Luther King Jr.'s arrest gained national attention. This led to more people joining the protests. The next day, over 2,000 protestors went to 16 locations.

Protests continued into November. On Black Friday, white students from Agnes Scott College and Emory University joined. The next day, about 100 members of the Ku Klux Klan held a counter-protest. They stood in front of Rich's.

The sit-ins continued through the holiday shopping season. By the end of 1960, sales were down by 13%. This showed the protests were hurting businesses.

In 1961, protestors planned to fill the jails. Over 100 protestors were arrested in February. COAHR leaders also sought help from U.S. President John F. Kennedy. They also asked U.S. Attorney General Robert F. Kennedy. They wanted help to desegregate the city.

On March 7, an agreement was reached. Lunch counters and restaurants would desegregate. This would happen after public schools integrated later that year. In return, the sit-ins would end. Student leaders were not happy. They wanted immediate desegregation. But they eventually agreed, and the sit-ins ended.

What Happened Next?

The Atlanta sit-ins changed relationships within the Black community. Older leaders were more cautious. Younger activists were more direct and less willing to compromise. A meeting was held on March 10 to discuss the agreement. Many people criticized the older leaders. Martin Luther King Jr. spoke, asking for unity.

In October 1961, Atlanta's schools integrated. After this, the lunch counters and restaurants in Atlanta also desegregated. By this time, over 100 cities in the Southern United States had already desegregated their eating places. Some historians say Atlanta was slower than other cities to desegregate. Full desegregation in Atlanta took more time. It was not complete until the Civil Rights Act of 1964.

See Also

• Civil Rights Movement
• Sit-in
• Greensboro sit-ins