Orangeburg massacre facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Orangeburg massacre |
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| Part of the Civil Rights Movement in South Carolina |
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| Location | Orangeburg, South Carolina |
| Date | February 8, 1968 approx. 10:30 p.m. (Eastern: UTC−5) |
| Deaths | 3 |
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Non-fatal injuries
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28 |
| Victims | Samuel Hammond Jr. Delano Middleton Henry Smith |
| Perpetrators | South Carolina Highway Patrol |
The Orangeburg massacre was a sad event that happened in Orangeburg, South Carolina, on February 8, 1968. Police officers from the South Carolina Highway Patrol shot at student protesters. This happened on the campus of South Carolina State University.
About 200 students were protesting against racial segregation. They were upset that a local bowling alley was only for white people. Three young African-American men were killed. Their names were Samuel Hammond Jr., Delano Middleton, and Henry Smith. Twenty-eight other students were also hurt.
What Happened Next
The day after the shooting, Governor Robert E. McNair spoke to the public. He said it was "one of the saddest days" for South Carolina.
The government looked into what happened. Police officers were put on trial for using too much force. This was the first time police officers faced a federal trial for such actions during a campus protest. The officers said they felt they were in danger. They claimed protesters had shot at them first. However, many witnesses said they did not hear any shots from the students. No students were found with guns. All nine officers were found not guilty.
Later, in 1970, an activist named Cleveland Sellers was found guilty of a charge related to the protest. He was a leader in the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee (SNCC). He spent seven months in prison. In 1993, the governor of South Carolina officially pardoned him. This meant his conviction was cleared.
The Smith–Hammond–Middleton Memorial Center is an arena at South Carolina State University. It was named to honor the three young men who died. It opened in the same year as the shooting.
The Young Men Who Died
- Samuel Ephesians Hammond Jr., 18 years old
- Delano Herman Middleton, 17 years old
- Henry Ezekial Smith, 19 years old
Remembering the Event
South Carolina State University's gymnasium is named after the three young men who were killed. There is also a monument on campus to remember them. The bowling alley that caused the protest later allowed people of all races.
In 2013, a mistake on the monument was fixed. Delano H. Middleton's name was spelled wrong for over 40 years. It had "B." instead of "H." for his middle initial.
In 2001, Governor Jim Hodges attended the university's yearly memorial service. He was the first governor to do so. On the 33rd anniversary of the event, survivors shared their stories. This was the first time survivors were recognized at the memorial. One survivor, Robert Lee Davis, said he was glad that those who were there could finally tell their own stories.
Lawmakers in South Carolina tried to create an official investigation into the event. They also wanted February 8 to be a day of remembrance. This idea was brought up several times but was never voted on.
Two films were made about the Orangeburg massacre in 2008. They were released on the 40th anniversary of the event. One was called Scarred Justice: The Orangeburg Massacre, 1968. The other was Black Magic.
