Joseph McNeil, who helped spark a protest movement at a North Carolina lunch counter, dies at 83

Joseph McNeil, a civil rights icon and member of the Greensboro Four, died on September 4, 2025, at the age of 83. His death, confirmed by North Carolina A&T State University and his family, marks the loss of a key activist whose 1960 sit-in protest helped galvanize the civil rights movement across the United States. The historic event began when McNeil and his classmates—Franklin McCain, David Richmond, and Jibreel Khazan (then Ezell Blair Jr.)—sat down at the segregated Woolworth’s lunch counter in Greensboro on February 1, 1960. Denied service because of their race, they remained seated peacefully until the store closed, demonstrating nonviolent resistance. This act was inspired by McNeil’s personal experiences with racism, particularly during a bus trip from New York where the racial atmosphere intensified as he traveled south. The protest quickly gained momentum, with hundreds of students joining in the following days. By the fifth day, over 1,000 protesters were involved, and within weeks, sit-ins had spread to more than 50 cities in nine states. This wave of activism was instrumental in desegregating the Woolworth’s counter within six months and led to the formation of the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee (SNCC), which became a driving force in the civil rights struggle. McNeil’s commitment to justice extended beyond his student years. He graduated from A&T, joined the ROTC, and rose to the rank of major general in the Air Force Reserves, retiring in 2001. He also worked as an investment banker and remained active in civil rights education, often speaking about the importance of the sit-ins. Despite recent health challenges, he attended the 65th anniversary observance in Greensboro earlier this year. With McNeil’s death, only Jibreel Khazan survives from the original four, as Franklin McCain passed away in 2014 and David Richmond in 1990. University Chancellor James Martin praised McNeil for inspiring a nation with his courageous protest, and the legacy of the Greensboro Four continues to be honored with a monument on campus. The impact of the sit-in is preserved in museums, including the International Civil Rights Center & Museum on the site of the old Woolworth’s store, where sections of the lunch counter are displayed. Then-Vice President Kamala Harris visited the museum in 2021, highlighting its significance. McNeil is also commemorated in his hometown of Wilmington with a street named in his honor. The family plans to announce a tribute to McNeil’s life. His son, Joseph McNeil Jr., emphasized that his father’s legacy is a testament to the power of courage and conviction, and his contributions to civil rights and military service will never be forgotten.