Sit-in protests were an important form of nonviolent direct action during the Civil Rights Movement in the United States. The sit-in strategy involved African American protesters sitting down at segregated lunch counters or restaurants that only served white customers, and refusing to leave until they were served or arrested. Sit-ins were a powerful way to challenge racial segregation and discrimination in public spaces.

One of the most famous sit-ins was the Greensboro sit-ins in 1960, where four African American college students from North Carolina A&T State University sat down at a whites-only lunch counter at a Woolworth's store in Greensboro, North Carolina. Their peaceful protest sparked a wave of sit-ins and inspired similar actions across the country.

Sit-ins played a significant role in desegregating public accommodations and raising awareness about the injustices faced by African Americans during the Civil Rights Movement. The sit-in protests helped to galvanize support for the movement and led to the eventual desegregation of many establishments.