ORANGEBURG, S.C. (AP) - South Carolina State University plans to unveil bronze busts of three students killed by bullets fired by officers during a 1968 civil rights protest.
The busts will be dedicated Saturday as part of the 52nd anniversary commemoration of what has come to be known as the Orangeburg Massacre,
Samuel Hammond Jr., Delano Middleton and Henry Smith were shot to death February 8, 1968, by state troopers during a tense encounter after three days of protests over a segregated bowling alley.
The troopers claimed someone shot at them first, but no evidence of anyone firing other than officers was ever found.
The university said in a press release that it will also mark the anniversary of the shooting with a screening and discussion of the film “Orangeburg: A Town, A Team, An American Tragedy.” South Carolina State football coach Buddy Pough will be part of Friday’s discussion along with filmmaker Jim Fabio.
They will talk about the civil rights movement and how issues the movement brought up are still relevant today.
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