College Shoppe

Introduction

In addition to drawing attention to the absence of public education, African-American students protested segregated businesses in downtown Farmville in 1963. On July 27, demonstrators were barred from entering the College Shoppe restaurant, formerly located to the south of this building, and refused to leave the sidewalk outside. As police approached, the protesters went limp before being arrested. In contrast to the violent response to civil rights protests in the Deep South, local governmental officials here tried to halt demonstrations through bureaucratic means, refusing to issue parade permits and closing the streets.

Photo: VCU Libraries

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