“They sat down so the world could stand up.”

On Jan. 31st, over a hundred students from A&T and several from Bennett gathered by the A&T Four statue in front of the Dudley Building and did more than just stand up; they marched. Black “4US” shirts sprinkled the crowd acknowledging the work of Franklin McCain, Joseph McNeil, Ezell Blair Jr., (later known as Jibreel Khazan), and the late David Richmond on Feb. 1, 1960 when they sat down at a Woolworth’s counter in downtown Greensboro and refused to leave until they were served.

The event was advertised via Facebook, word of mouth and newsletters and students were able to reserve shirts. Buttons were also given out to students who didn’t have a shirt or who wanted both.

As the crowd got larger, the noise level increased and the area became more populated. Everyone was dressed in his or her warmest gear ready to travel in the chilly January weather.

“You can always put on a jacket,” said sophomore speech language pathology major, Austin James, who was excited to be a part of history. This is the second of an annual event begun by Tibias Thorne, senior graphic communications major from Rocky Mount.

“I wanted to start something that was completely student-centered, completely student-driven that we could do to honor the legacy of the A&T Four and the civil rights movement,” said Thorne. Those who attended this year’s march included Dean of students, Dr. Judy Rashid, SGA and SUAB members old and new and their advisors. As time went on, president David Street brought stillness among the crowd. He began the event by reminding students that this was not a party or a social gathering, this march was for a purpose and should be taken seriously. A short prayer was said before the journey began and the instructions were given.

The crowd began their walk on the corner of Benbow Hall and crossed Dudley Street. There were police officers and escorts to make sure the students traveled safely to their destination and back. The group traveled in a silent line of paired individuals that stretched far across the street with the SGA members leading the way.

The group turned onto W. Market Street towards downtown. “The silence allowed me to think about what the Greensboro Four were thinking as they marched to make a stand. It made me think about how far will I actually go to risk my life for my community, my peers and my family,” said sophomore Morika Williams, a laboratory animal science major from Owego, NY. “I was just thinking during the silence.” The group turned onto Davis Street toward the depot and made a right turn on to February One Place. As the students walked, they pointed to the sign in recognition of the naming of the street in honor of the past.

The students continued to stop traffic and turn heads and unnecessary comments were heard as the students traveled. Everyone couldn’t possibly understand the cause nor were they trying to.

“This year, I’m not going to say people weren’t as respectful on the outside, but it was just a different feeling. It seemed like when we were marching last year, the whole city got silent for that moment. But this year, there was still a lot going on,” said Thorne.

Amongst the busy streets of downtown Greensboro, they arrived at F. W. Woolworth’s on the corner of S. Elm and E. February One. The students stood for a moment of silence in remembrance. The group continued on to the Center City Park and headed to the Founder’s Wall for the actual reception.

The students gathered around to hear Thorne, Rashid, Street, Danielle Koon, Marcus Bass and speak their hearts on what they felt needed to be said at this time and what needed to be remembered in the future.

“I gained insight from Marcus Bass to always remember to push on no matter how hard the obstacle may be and to press forth even though everything seems to be running smoothly,” said Williams. There were a couple of “Aggie Pride’s” that lifted through the air before the group separated and headed back to campus.

“It’s one thing to hear the story of how the event took place and it’s another thing to be a part of it,” said James.

• Stacie Bailey