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GREENSBORO N.C. (WGHP) -
Three white women from Women's College, now The University of North Carolina at Greensboro, also became a part of history in February 1960 by sitting at the Woolworth Lunch Counter.
Ann Dearsley-Vernon, Marilyn Lott and Jeanie Seaman became known as the Women's College 3 after joining the sit-in demonstrations in downtown Greensboro.
"By the third day, the newspapers were full of this news. Over breakfast, me and my two girlfriends (Lott and Seaman) decided it was ridiculous someone couldn't get a cup of coffee. So we decided to go down and show out support for these students," said Ann Dearsley-Vernon, one of the Women's College 3.
The three women, students at Women's College, decided to join the demonstrations in downtown Greensboro. The three women put on their class jackets, walked downtown and into Woolworth's to sit at the lunch counter.
"Some of the seats inside were occupied by A&T students, but a lot of them were occupied by young white men unhappy with the turn of events. When the three of us walked in, they assumed we were aligning ourselves with the angry young men," said Dearsley-Vernon.
"When the waitress came, we simply said... 'I think somebody was here before us. At that point, the cat was literally out of the bag," said Dearsley.
Dearsley-Vernon sat at the counter and drew sketches inside Woolworth's.
"I think one of the most meaningful moments in my whole life was when it came time to close the store, a large group of A&T students protected us as we walked out of the store. People were swearing and cursing at us, but they linked arms and put us in the middle of the circle," said Dearsley.
Dearsley-Vernon said she always knew it was the right thing.
"I must admit, I was a little naive about the consequences. I just want to give one disclaimer... I only gave a few hours and the only reason there was so much attention was because we were three white women who joined the Sit-in," said Dearsley.
Ann Dearsley-Vernon, Marilyn Lott and Jeanie Seaman became known as the Women's College 3 after joining the sit-in demonstrations in downtown Greensboro.
"By the third day, the newspapers were full of this news. Over breakfast, me and my two girlfriends (Lott and Seaman) decided it was ridiculous someone couldn't get a cup of coffee. So we decided to go down and show out support for these students," said Ann Dearsley-Vernon, one of the Women's College 3.
The three women, students at Women's College, decided to join the demonstrations in downtown Greensboro. The three women put on their class jackets, walked downtown and into Woolworth's to sit at the lunch counter.
"Some of the seats inside were occupied by A&T students, but a lot of them were occupied by young white men unhappy with the turn of events. When the three of us walked in, they assumed we were aligning ourselves with the angry young men," said Dearsley-Vernon.
"When the waitress came, we simply said... 'I think somebody was here before us. At that point, the cat was literally out of the bag," said Dearsley.
Dearsley-Vernon sat at the counter and drew sketches inside Woolworth's.
"I think one of the most meaningful moments in my whole life was when it came time to close the store, a large group of A&T students protected us as we walked out of the store. People were swearing and cursing at us, but they linked arms and put us in the middle of the circle," said Dearsley.
Dearsley-Vernon said she always knew it was the right thing.
"I must admit, I was a little naive about the consequences. I just want to give one disclaimer... I only gave a few hours and the only reason there was so much attention was because we were three white women who joined the Sit-in," said Dearsley.
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