Alabama HBCU Apologizes 58 Years After Expelling 9 Students for Sit-In Protest | Atlanta Black Star

[dropcap]It’s[/dropcap] been a long time coming, but the Alabama State Board of Education finally expunged the records of nine Alabama State College students who were expelled for their civil rights activism nearly 58 years ago. [mc4wp_form id=”6042″]

St. John Dixon, James McFadden and Joseph Peterson wave after receiving honorary degrees from Alabama State University — the same school that expelled them for their activism. Photo Credit David Campbell/AS

Joseph Peterson, 83, was among the group of students booted from the campus, known today as Alabama State University, after taking part in a lunch counter sit-in at a whites-only eatery in the basement of the Montgomery County courthouse in 1960, USA TODAY reported. A few faculty members also found themselves jobless after participating in the protest.