The Orangeburg Massacre, also known as the Orangeburg Shootings, occurred on February 8, 1968, at South Carolina State University in Orangeburg, South Carolina. During a protest against racial segregation at a local bowling alley, tensions escalated between the predominantly African American protesters and law enforcement.

The situation turned deadly when South Carolina Highway Patrol officers opened fire on the protesters, killing three young men - Samuel Hammond Jr., Delano Middleton, and Henry Smith - and injuring at least 27 others, most of whom were students. The officers claimed they were under attack, but later investigations found evidence suggesting that the shooting was unjustified and that the students were unarmed.

The Orangeburg Massacre was one of the deadliest incidents of the Civil Rights Movement, but it is less well-known than other events like the Selma march or the Birmingham church bombing. The shooting highlighted the continued struggles for racial equality and justice in the United States and raised awareness of police brutality against African Americans.

The victims of the Orangeburg Massacre are remembered for their sacrifice in the fight for civil rights, and the incident serves as a stark reminder of the violence and repression faced by Black Americans in their quest for equality.