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Remembering an act of courage


Last updated March 4, 2013

By News administrator

On March 2, 1961, a large group of high school and college students gathered at Zion Baptist Church in Columbia. Their purpose was to peacefully confront the state government and the people of South Carolina about their grievances, and ask that “the laws which prohibited Negro privileges in this state to be removed.” The protesters were arrested, but the U.S. Supreme Court would ultimately reverse the convictions and strengthen free speech rights in America.  Furman communications professor Sean O’Rourke co-authored an op-ed in The Greenville News that commemorated the 50th anniversary of that important ruling.

Read the op-ed

 

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