From the January 28, 2015, Chicago Tribune by Meg Kinnard, AP
Nine black men arrested for integrating a whites-only South Carolina lunch counter nearly 54 years ago made them heroes in the Civil Rights movement, but the law still considered them guilty of trespassing.
On Wednesday, a Rock Hill, S.C., judge is expected to vacate the arrests and convictions of the men known as the Friendship Nine.
The eight students at Rock Hill's Friendship JuniorCollege: Willie McCleod, John Gaines, Clarence Graham, W.T. "Dub" Massey, James Wells, David Wiilliamson Jr., Mack Workman and Robert McCullough (who died in 2006) were led by activist Thomas Gaither of the Congress of Racial Equality.
About a year had passed since the better-known lunch counter encounter at the Woolworth's in Greensboro, N.C. and they decided to do it in January 1961 at the white's-only lunch counter at McCrory's variety store.
They were arrested and convicted of trespassing and breach of the peace and opted for a month's hard labor rather than post bail.
Although their records are to be cleared, the men hope their nonviolence can be an example to protesters today. "We still insist that nonviolence is the way to go," said Clarence Graham. I think MLK would agree as well.
I am glad this happened. They were very brave to challenge a horrible system intended to keep blacks down.
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