Delta State College 1969 sit-in participants honored with MS Freedom Trail Marker
JANS – A new Mississippi Freedom Trail marker recognizing the student activists of the 1969 sit-in at Delta State College (DSC) was unveiled on March 10 on the campus of Delta State University. The marker honors the students whose peaceful protest became a pivotal moment in the pursuit of racial equity and inclusion at the institution.
The ceremony was cohosted by Visit Mississippi, the Mississippi Humanities Council, and the Delta Center for Culture and Learning. The marker stands outside Kethley Hall, the site of the original protest.
In 1969, after presenting 10 demands for equity and representation, DSC students gathered outside the President’s Office in Kethley Hall to stage a peaceful sit-in. More than 50 students were arrested and taken to Parchman Penitentiary, where they continued their demonstration through unity and song. Their actions helped set in motion long-term institutional change at Delta State University.
“This marker dedication ensures that the legacy of the 1969 student activists endures as a part of Mississippi’s civil rights story. Their determination helped move institutions and our state toward greater inclusivity,” said Visit Mississippi Director Rochelle Hicks. “We are honored to stand with our Mississippi Freedom Trail partners and the greater Cleveland community to recognize their contributions, as Visit Mississippi’s cultural trails program serves to shine light on the people, places, and events that have shaped Mississippi’s dynamic cultural heritage.”
The program included a welcome from Delta State University President Daniel Ennis, with remarks and reflections from Delta Center for Culture and Learning Director Mandy Truman; Central District Transportation Commissioner Willie Simmons of the Mississippi Department of Transportation; retired Delta State University Professor Georgene Clark; DSC 1969 sit-in participant Maggie Crawford; Visit Mississippi Chief Sales Officer Kammie Carpenter; and Mississippi Humanities Council Director of Strategic Initiatives John Spann.
For more information about the Mississippi Freedom Trail and to explore tourism offerings in Mississippi, visit visitmississippi.org.
