Friendship Nine
| Company type | Activist group |
|---|---|
| Industry | Civil rights movement |
| Founded | 1961 |
| Headquarters | Rock Hill , United States |
Area served | United States, primarily South Carolina |
The Friendship Nine, also known as the Rock Hill Nine, were a group of African-American men who attracted nationwide attention after conducting a sit-in at a segregated McCrory's lunch counter in Rock Hill, South Carolina, in 1961. They implemented the "Jail, No Bail" tactic, inspired by the 1960 Nashville sit-ins, opting to serve jail sentences rather than paying fines. This approach alleviated financial pressure on civil rights organizations and disrupted the revenue cities earned from arresting protesters.
Primarily composed of students from Friendship Junior College, the group was convicted and sentenced to 30 days at the York County Prison Farm. Eight out of nine members refused to post bail and completed their jail terms, which garnered extensive media attention and support from groups such as the NAACP and the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee (SNCC). Their defiance ignited further protests across the country and helped popularize the "Jail, No Bail" method, which financially strained local governments while raising public consciousness.
The dedication of the Friendship Nine played a crucial role in intensifying civil rights demonstrations, influencing landmark events like the 1963 March on Washington and the 1965 Selma to Montgomery march. Their strategic leadership exemplified an effective model of nonviolent resistance that merged ethical resolve with economic consequences to promote social reform.
Ongoing demonstrations
On January 31, 1961, students from Friendship Junior College, along with others, staged a protest at McCrory's on Main Street in Rock Hill by sitting at the segregated lunch counter and placing orders, resulting in their arrest.
The following day, ten individuals were found guilty of trespassing and disturbing the peace, receiving sentences of either 30 days in jail or a $100 fine. While one person paid the fine, nine—eight of whom were Friendship students—opted for incarceration. This marked a significant turning point in the Civil Rights Movement as it introduced the "jail, no bail" strategy that inspired similar protests elsewhere. Throughout spring and summer, increasing numbers participated in sit-ins and marches in Rock Hill.
Prison strikes
The protesters chose imprisonment over bail and were sent to a work camp where they twice refused to perform labor. As punishment, they were subjected to a diet of bread and water.
The nine
In 2007, Rock Hill dedicated a historic marker honoring the Friendship Nine during an event attended by eight surviving members.
- Robert McCullough (passed away August 7, 2006)
- John Gaines (passed away June 5, 2024)
- Thomas Gaither (served as field secretary for the Congress of Racial Equality; only non-student; passed away December 23, 2024)
- Clarence Graham (passed away March 25, 2016)
- Willie Thomas [W.T. "Dub"] Massey (currently works as a substitute teacher in Rock Hill)
- Willie McCleod (passed away December 31, 2020)
- James Wells (passed away July 7, 2018)
- David Williamson Jr.
- Mack Workman (passed away March 5, 2024)
The significance
Taylor Branch remarked in his Pulitzer Prize-winning Civil Rights history Parting the Waters that what made the Rock Hill protest particularly timely was its response to a tactical challenge discussed throughout SNCC chapters across the South: how to circumvent the severe constraints imposed by limited bail funds. The benefit of adopting 'jail, no bail' was that it transferred financial responsibility from demonstrators onto white authorities who had to bear expenses for incarceration and sustenance. Nevertheless, remaining imprisoned demanded a far greater level of dedication beyond simply facing arrest or paying bail.
Convictions reversed
In 2015, Judge John C. Hayes III—who is the nephew of the original judge responsible for sentencing the Friendship Nine to 30 days on a York County, South Carolina chain gang—nullified their convictions. He remarked, "While we cannot change the past, we can correct it." During the court session, Prosecutor Kevin Brackett issued an apology to the eight surviving members present. Ernest A. Finney, Jr., their initial defense attorney and later the first African-American Chief Justice of the South Carolina Supreme Court since the Reconstruction period, represented the men.
External links
- Heraldonline footage of the historic marker dedication in 2007
- Civil Rights History Project: Thomas Walter Gaither, video duration 2:11:06, Library of Congress
- ‘Our ultimate choice is desegregation or disintegration’ – uncovering the forgotten words of a jailed civil rights strategist The Conversation
- Court proceeding to vacate Friendship Nine convictions, City of Rock Hill, SC, January 30, 2015