sittingin

Sitting in, commonly written as sit-in or sit in, is a form of nonviolent protest in which participants occupy a public or semi-public space and refuse to leave until their demands are addressed. The tactic aims to draw attention to an issue by creating disruption while avoiding violence. Participants typically remain seated or occupy a space in locations such as lunch counters, government offices, campuses, or workplaces, and often organize in advance with organizers, legal observers, and a code of conduct emphasizing peaceful behavior and noncooperation with authorities.

The sit-in has roots in labor actions such as the sit-down strikes of the 1930s and was popularized in the United States during the Civil Rights Movement of the 1950s and 1960s. The Greensboro sit-ins of 1960, where four students sat at a segregated lunch counter in North Carolina, became a turning point and inspired similar actions nationwide. International variants have appeared in movements for civil rights, decolonization, and political reform, illustrating the tactic’s adaptability to different social contexts.

Organization and legal considerations vary by context. Organizers typically establish clear objectives, designate roles (participants, observers, mediators), and stress nonviolence and de-escalation. Participants may be arrested or otherwise removed; rights and procedures depend on local law, occupancy status, and the authorities’ handling of demonstrations. Outcomes range from policy or practice changes to broader shifts in public opinion, and sit-ins continue to be used as a visible, symbolic tactic in protests around the world.