The sit-in movement of 1960 is one of the most significant protest waves of the larger black freedom struggle. Initiated and led by college students, demonstrations swept throughout the US South in the spring of 1960. Protesters occupied lunch counters and other public spaces to push for the desegregation of establishments in downtown business areas. The protests marked a shift toward more disruptive tactics and placed college students on the frontlines of the movement. Although protesters faced violence from whites and police repression, the demonstrations led to successful desegregation in many cities. In April protest leaders established the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee which played a central role in the civil rights and Black Power movements. Scholars have examined this case to understand central questions about spontaneity, diffusion, tactics, and the efficacy of protest.