CLEVELAND, Miss. — Delta State University will unveil a Mississippi Freedom Trail marker March 10 commemorating the 1969 student sit-in that became a defining moment in the institution’s civil rights history.
The ceremony is scheduled for 11 a.m. Tuesday in front of Kethley Hall on the university’s campus, with a reception to follow in the lobby of Ewing Hall hosted by the Delta Center for Culture and Learning.
In February 1969, members of the Black Student Organization presented university leaders with a list of 10 demands, calling for the hiring of Black faculty and counselors, fair grading practices, an end to racial slurs in classrooms and broader academic and cultural representation on campus.
When students believed their concerns were not being adequately addressed, they organized a peaceful sit-in at Kethley Hall, then the university’s administration building. On March 10, 1969, 52 students were arrested and transported to the Mississippi State Penitentiary at Parchman, where they were held overnight.
The demonstration is regarded as one of the most significant civil rights events in the university’s history and a key chapter in the broader Civil Rights Movement in the Mississippi Delta.
In late fall 2025, six participants in the sit-in met at the Delta Center for Culture and Learning to reflect on their experiences and help guide the historical narrative for the marker. The discussion was organized to ensure the text accurately reflects the events of 1969.
“I listened as these women reconnected and reminisced about their brave actions in 1969,” said Mandy Truman, director of the Delta Center for Culture and Learning. “It was a powerful experience to see history pieced back together in the Delta Center and to witness their courage and joy in revisiting these moments. It showed me the importance of preserving and honoring Delta history.”
Effie Sledge, one of the participants, said she hopes the marker will inspire reflection and learning.
“It is my hope that viewing the marker will remind us that we stand on the shoulders of our great ancestors and on God’s goodness and power,” Sledge said. “It is also my hope that one will be encouraged to learn and celebrate the legacy of great faith and perseverance.”
Participants in the 1969 sit-in include Mary Carter, Effie Sledge, Pearlie White, Maggie Crawford, Yvonne Stanford and Lula Jones.
