Clearing the criminal records of Columbia activists whose protests led to the Civil Rights Act in the 1960s

COLUMBIA, SC (WIS) – Seven men whose legal battles in the 1960s helped lead to the passage of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 had their criminal records cleared Friday.

The Fifth Judicial Circuit Bar held a ceremony at noon at the Richland County Judicial Center.

“Rewaivers are typically conducted confidentially and with little to no fanfare,” said Byron Gipson, attorney for the Fifth Judicial Circuit. “This incident deserves to be addressed publicly because these seven men were publicly shamed and therefore their exoneration should also be done publicly.”

Two of the men, Charles F. Barr and Reverend Dr. Simon P. Bouie, were present. Their court cases Barr v. City of Columbia et al. and Bouie v. City of Columbia et al. reached the Supreme Court and paved the way for the passage of the Civil Rights Act.

In both cases, the men were arrested for taking part in a peaceful sit-in at a drugstore lunch counter before being charged with breach of peace after refusing to leave.

“In 1960, they had the courage to risk their lives and freedom to force our state and our nation to fulfill their promise of equality for all citizens,” Gipson said. “Today we stand in solidarity and thank you for your selflessness, your courage and your willingness to sacrifice. Thank you for reminding us that justice delayed is not the same as justice denied.”

The remaining five men had died before the ceremony: Reverend Dr. David Carter, Johnny M. Clark, Richard M. Counts, Milton B. Greene, and Talmadge J. Neal. Their records were posthumously expunged and their families were represented at the ceremony.

“As we take this important step to acknowledge the wrongful treatment of these courageous civil rights activists, we reaffirm our unwavering commitment to justice and accountability,” said Columbia Mayor Daniel Rickenmann. “Your exoneration is not just a personal victory; It symbolizes our community’s commitment to confront past injustices and ensure that the principles of equality and fairness prevail.”

The effort to begin exonerating the seven men’s files began in 2013 with discussions between the University of South Carolina’s Center for Civil Rights History and Research and the men themselves. They later joined forces with Orton Bellamy, a former member of the South Carolina Parole Board, which offered its assistance free of charge.

“It was a great honor to work with the Civil Rights Center and the Law Firm to facilitate this well-deserved expulsion of these courageous civil rights icons,” Bellamy said.

This story is developing. Check back here for updates.

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