Sit-in protests were a form of nonviolent protest that became a prominent tactic of the Civil Rights Movement in the 1960s. The sit-in strategy originated with the Greensboro sit-ins in 1960, where four Black college students in North Carolina sat at a segregated lunch counter and refused to leave until they were served, sparking a wave of similar actions across the South.

These protests involved Black individuals sitting at "whites-only" segregated facilities, such as lunch counters, restaurants, and theaters, to challenge racial segregation and discrimination. Participants would peacefully occupy the space, often enduring harassment, violence, and arrest, in order to draw attention to the injustice of segregation and demand equal rights.

Sit-ins were a powerful tool for the Civil Rights Movement, as they garnered widespread media attention and inspired solidarity among Black communities and allies. The success of the sit-ins led to the desegregation of many public facilities and helped pave the way for broader civil rights reforms, including the passage of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, which banned discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex, or national origin.

Overall, sit-in protests played a significant role in the struggle for racial equality and social justice in the United States and remain a symbol of the power of nonviolent resistance in the face of oppression.