57 years later — SC State commemorates Orangeburg Massacre

Photo Courtesy: SC State University

ORANGEBURG, SC (WOLO) — February 8th marks the 57th anniversary of the Orangeburg Massacre at South Carolina State University. The ceremony took place at the Martin Luther King Auditorium on campus.

On February 8th, 1968, Henry Smith, Samuel Hammond, and Delano Middleton were killed when police opened fire on some 200 unarmed Black students who were demonstrating in the name of integrating a local bowling alley.

Smith and Hammond were both enrolled at SC State, and Middleton was a 17-year-old student at Wilkinson High School in Orangeburg.

Another 28 protestors were wounded.

Following the ceremony, a brief remembrance was conducted at the Smith-Hammond-Middleton Legacy Plaza on campus.

For a complete history of events, click here.