February 6, 1961:
Four large-name SNCC members were inspired by the bold actions of the Friendship 9 and decided to join their efforts and do the same thing. They came to Rock Hill, protested at Mcrory’s, were arrested and refused bail. The two men that were involved were Charles Sherrod and J. Charles Jones, and both joined the nine at the York County Prison Farm. There were two women involved as well, Diane Nash and Ruby Doris Smith; they served their 30 days at the York County Jail.
All four of these SNCC members later went on to do great things within the Civil Rights Movement. Diane Nash, in particular, was a beautiful but gritty woman who was very influential in the Freedom Rides as well as worked alongside Martin Luther King Jr.
February 8, 1961:
Rock Hill picketers up until this point were all African American students, but Edward Haan from Tennessee, a white student, traveled to South Carolina to join the efforts. In other southern cities, especially in Nashville, TN and Jackson, MI, white students had already joined black students to fight racial and social injustice.
February 8, 1961:
SNCC leads a mass protest in Rock Hill after the NAACP chapter holds a large meeting. Students used the whole weekend to protest not just downtown, but outside of the Prison Farm as well; there were 40 students who protested for the entirety of the weekend.
