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Civil Rights Demonstrators Stage a Sit-in Protest in the East Garden Room

This black-and-white photograph, taken by Cecil Stougton on March 11, 1965, shows twelve young protesters staging a sit-in demonstration in the East Garden Room. The demonstrators were protesting on behalf of civil rights for African Americans, following violence by law enforcement officers on nonviolent demonstrators in Selma, Alabama on March 7, 1965. The protesters entered the White House through the visitors entrance as part of regularly scheduled visitor hours from 10:00 am to 12:00 pm. At 4:55pm, President Lyndon B. Johnson summoned Secret Service Agent Rufus Youngblood with instructions to remove the protesters.
Photographer
Cecil Stoughton
Date of Work
March 11, 1965
Type
Photograph
Credit
Lyndon B. Johnson Presidential Library and Museum/NARA