In 1960, Simon Bouie had assured his mother and grandmother that he wouldn’t end up in trouble. Yet, he took a momentous step by sitting at a whites-only lunch counter in South Carolina, resulting in his arrest. On Friday, a significant milestone was achieved when a judge signed an expungement order for Bouie’s arrest record alongside six of his friends during a ceremony in a Columbia courthouse, just a short distance from where Bouie had made history over six decades earlier.
As Bouie recounted the events leading up to that historic day, he recalled warnings from the governor of the time, who cautioned African American college students against getting involved with “hot-headed agitators” and “confused lawyers” advocating for equality across racial lines. Bouie stated, “We were determined to fight for what was right, and no one could dissuade us. We walked in that building with our heads held high and took our seats.”
The act of sitting down at that lunch counter was a pivotal moment in the fight against segregation, a protest that originated in Greensboro, North Carolina, and spread across the South. Recently, various cities in the South have held similar expungement ceremonies for individuals who faced arrest while standing up for civil rights, many of whom are now elderly. Notably, U.S. Representative Jim Clyburn frequently recounts how he met his wife, Emily, after both had been arrested during a protest.
During this period, African Americans often faced arrest for taking their seats at all-white lunch counters and would sometimes remain behind bars, refusing bail. This led to overcrowding in jails, and many were assigned to chain gangs. The relentless protests and activism slowly tore down the walls of segregation, despite violent pushback.
Now, only two of the seven men arrested during the protests in Columbia remain alive: Bouie and Charles Barr, both of whom needed canes to navigate the courthouse. The five others—David Carter, Johnny Clark, Richard Counts, Milton Greene, and Talmadge Neal—have passed away, but were honored with white roses displayed on another table at the front of the room.
Recalling the day of his arrest, Barr expressed the anxiety he felt while being transported in a police vehicle, uncertain of his fate. Having heard numerous chilling tales, he temporarily left South Carolina due to racial unrest but eventually returned. “It feels good to reflect on our role in this movement, which has contributed to a more harmonious society in South Carolina,” Barr remarked.
Bobby Donaldson, a professor at the University of South Carolina, spoke proudly on behalf of the deceased men, declaring their commitment to the Constitution and equality was a testament to their character as Americans. He noted, “In 1960 they were victims of injustice. Today, they stand vindicated. They were prosecuted then; they are celebrated now. Once convicted, they are now exonerated.”
The legal battles faced by the seven men reached the U.S. Supreme Court, where their convictions were overturned just before the signing of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. However, their records still reflected those arrests until now.
Solicitor Byron Gipson took the initiative to research the arrests and ensure the expungement process proceeded smoothly before the judge. He honored the courage of these men who bravely confronted the oppression of their time. “They chose to challenge adversity despite the grave risks,” Gipson emphasized, adding that their actions aimed to secure constitutional rights for all Americans.
Finally, Judge Robert Hood signed the expungement paperwork to applause from the approximately 150 attendees present in the courtroom. “These individuals displayed remarkable fortitude against oppression, often at great personal sacrifice. They envisioned a world where equality was not merely a dream but a tangible reality,” Judge Hood asserted.
Despite the challenges they faced, the arrests did not hinder Bouie and his fellow activists from completing their education and achieving success in their respective lives. Reflecting on a humorous aspect, Bouie shared how his wife would jest with him during disputes, jokingly threatening to drag him back to Richland County court, a reminder that brought laughter to the audience. “That routine lasted for 53 years,” he chuckled.