Sixty-four years after they bravely challenged segregation through peaceful sit-ins, seven men from Columbia, South Carolina, celebrated the expungement of their criminal records, marking a significant step toward justice and recognition of their contributions to the Civil Rights Movement. The ceremony took place on October 25, 2024, at the Richland County Courthouse, where Circuit Court Judge Robert Hood signed the expungement papers amid cheers and applause from family, friends, and civil rights advocates.
The men, all students at Allen University and Benedict College, were arrested back on March 14, 1960, for attempting to order lunch at whites-only lunch counters, echoing movements taking place across the country, particularly the Greensboro sit-ins. Only two of the original seven—Rev. Simon Bouie and Charles Barr—were present to witness this long-awaited moment. Their fellow activists, who had been part of this pivotal movement, were honored posthumously with empty chairs and white roses representing their absence.
“Who would think it would take 60 years for them to clear this up?” Barr stated, reflecting on the prolonged injustice as they stood together at the courthouse. The sit-in protests demonstrated both the resolve of these young men and the pressing need for societal change at the time.
Governor Ernest Hollings had warned the students against such civil disobedience, threatening arrests if the demonstrations continued. Still, buoyed by the desire for justice and equality, Bouie, then just 20 and president of his university’s Student Movement Association, led fellow students to take action. Their refusal to sit idly by was reflected both through letters urging their right to fair treatment and determined actions at local eateries.
Their efforts coincided with larger dialogues around civil rights, yielding pushbacks but also igniting public discussions about discrimination and equality under the law. "We wanted to be served as every other white patron was served," Gugson noted about the convictions under which the men had suffered for decades. "They were simply ‘sitting’ peacefully, yet criminal records lingered long after the U.S. Supreme Court overturned their convictions.”
During the proceedings, Solicitor Byron Gipson, who led the initiative to have the records cleared, emphasized the importance of recognizing the bravery of these men who stood up for their civil rights. He said, “No one could have predicted the social changes their actions would inspire.” The clearing of these records goes beyond mere paperwork; it symbolizes the broader societal transformations resulting from these actions.
Before the expungements, the men carried the burden of their past convictions, which served as reminders of the repression faced by Black individuals during the Jim Crow era. Many societal gains achieved since then can be traced back to these early activists who set the stage for future movements for social justice. The process began when Orton Bellamy, formerly on South Carolina’s parole board, learned of the men’s historical significance and initiated the effort.
The significance of the occasion ran deep, with Judge Hood and various speakers noting the impact of the men’s fight for equality. “It is about recognizing their rightful place in our history and celebrating their achievements,” Bobby Donaldson, head of the University of South Carolina’s Center for Civil Rights History and Research, remarked. He facilitated the effort alongside others who realized the importance of this recognition.
They stood up against not just local policies but against the systemic injustices prevalent throughout the South. The protests and the subsequent legal battles played key roles in reshaping public attitudes toward civil rights and necessitated the passing of significant legislations like the Civil Rights Act of 1964 shortly after the Supreme Court's ruling on their conviction. "Those of us who wish to be free are willing to suffer and pay the price,” Bouie had written previously as they advocated for rights.
At the ceremony, Barr noted the personal fears they had faced during their protests: “You don’t know how things were in 1960, and how you could disappear and nobody would know what happened to you,” he recalled, emphasizing the gravity of their decision to speak out. The atmosphere was one of validation and reflection as family and descendants of the deceased gathered to honor their legacies.
The expungements do not only illuminate the past injustices but also allow for healing. Leaders within the community, including local lawmakers, expressed their hopes for forthcoming recognition of other activists who participated during similar movements. Plans are already being discussed for the potential expungement of records for others involved during this time, including those arrested during protests outside the Statehouse.
Simon Bouie remarked on the weight of history as he looked around the court filled with supporters. “To know just two of us remain alive to experience what we have today — I would have hoped all of them could have been here,” he said poignantly. The day was not only a celebration of justice but also a moment of mourning for those lost along the way.
South Carolina Senator Darrell Jackson, who attended the session, is gearing up to introduce a resolution honoring these pioneers. “I know the young men who sat at the lunch counter could never have imagined this moment,” he said, acknowledging the long arc of justice.
The presence of their families and the acknowledgment from local government leaders were heartening reminders of the impact these men have left on Columbia’s civil rights history. Judge Hood indicated the day was not just about expungements but also meant to signify rectifying past wrongs, emphasizing, “This courtroom today, is part of lasting change.”
Throughout the [expungement ceremony](https://www.abccolumbia.com/2024/10/26/richland-county-judge-clears-records-of-columbia-civil-rights-leaders-after-64-years/), the message rang clear: the act of standing up, of proclaiming their rights, has echoes reaching far beyond their immediate actions. The courage displayed by these students played integral roles not only within the narrative of Columbia's history but also as part of the larger movement toward achieving civil rights across America. The continued recognition and realization of these injustices serve as potent reminders of the fiercely combative fight against inequality and discrimination.
Therefore, as history continues to be written, the stories and struggles of those advocating for justice back then reverberate through today’s dilemmas, prompting society to realize previous injustices, paving ways toward healing, and ensuring the continued fight for civil liberties extends its narrative across generations.
