1963 – Woolworth Sit-In Sparks Global Civil Rights Solidarity

On May 28, 1963, four young African American students—Annie Moody, Memphis Norman, Pearlena Lewis, and William Buttons—staged a sit-in at a Woolworth lunch counter in Jackson, Mississippi. What made this event historic was the level of brutality they faced as white onlookers poured ketchup, sugar, and condiments on them, all while cameras captured the violence. The photo of Anne Moody being attacked became an iconic image of the Civil Rights Movement. This sit-in, though local, triggered global conversations about racial injustice, inspiring solidarity protests in cities like London and Cape Town. The international reaction underscored the interconnected nature of civil rights struggles. Today, May 28 is remembered as a date that amplified the global call for justice. It remains a powerful reminder of the resilience of young activists and how one act of resistance can ripple across continents.