The Orangeburg Massacre took place on February 8, 1968, in Orangeburg, South Carolina. It was a tragic event where police officers opened fire on a group of predominantly African American students who were protesting against racial segregation at a local bowling alley.

The protest turned violent after the police were called in to disperse the crowd. The officers fired into the crowd, killing three young men - Samuel Hammond Jr., Delano Middleton, and Henry Smith - and injuring many others. Most of the victims were shot in the back as they were fleeing the scene.

The Orangeburg Massacre was one of the deadliest incidents of civil rights era violence on a college campus, yet it is often overshadowed by other events of the time such as the Kent State shootings. The tragedy highlighted the ongoing racial tensions in the South and raised awareness about police violence against African Americans.

The survivors and families of the victims have continued to seek justice and recognition for the Orangeburg Massacre, demanding accountability for the excessive use of force by law enforcement that led to the senseless loss of life.