One of the 3 Negro students from Johnson C. Smith University who were arrested for lunch counter protests…

Press Release
March 9, 1960

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One of the 3 Negro students from Johnson C. Smith University who were arrested for lunch counter protests… preview

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Press Releases, Loose Pages. One of the 3 Negro students from Johnson C. Smith University who were arrested for lunch counter protests…, 1960. 0325e1b1-bc92-ee11-be37-00224827e97b. LDF Archives, Thurgood Marshall Institute. https://ldfrecollection.org/archives/archives-search/archives-item/5fa66c02-8872-4dfe-9084-c4f762d42da5/one-of-the-3-negro-students-from-johnson-c-smith-university-who-were-arrested-for-lunch-counter-protests. Accessed October 10, 2025.

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    PRESS RELEASE@ @ 

NAACP LEGAL DEFENSE AND EDUCATIONAL FUND 
10 COLUMBUS CIRCLE + NEW YORK 19,N.Y. © JUdson 6-8397 

DR. ALLAN KNIGHT CHALMERS C= THURGOOD MARSHALL 
President Director-Countel 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 

March 9, 1960 

Charlotte, N.C. -- One of the 3 Negro students from Johnson C. 

Smith University who were arrested for lunch counter protests was 

acquitted Tuesday. The students were defended by NAACP Legal Defense 

and Educational Fund attorneys. 

The 3 students were arrested February 23 when they sought 

service in the cafeteria of Belk's Department Store in downtown 

Charlotte. While all were accused of blocking the aisles, each was 

arrested on different charges. 

John Byrom Shamberger, 19, of Philadelphia, was charged with 

assaulting a white man who attempted to walk pass him near the cafe- 

teria entrance; Charles McNeill, 21, of Fayetteville, N. C., was 

charged with assaulting a white woman who tried to pass him also near 

the cafeteria entrance, and Elvin John Ryan, 20, of Elizabeth, N. J., 

was charged with violating a Fire Department ordinance by blocking 

the aisle. 

NAACP Legal Defense attorneys presented evidence which proved 

that there was sufficient room for customers to pass the Negro stu- 

dents without interference. The only evidence of assault was that »y 

an employee of the store who beat McNeill to the floor. The Negro 

student offered no resistance. 

John Byrom Shamberger was acquitted when Legal Defense attorneys 

established that any touching of the white prosecuting witness was 

light and accidental. The other two students were convicted. Their 

attorneys immediately filed notice of appeal with the Charlotte 

Recorders Court. 

The new trial is expected to be held within the next few weeks. 

Attorneys for the Negro students were Thomas Wyche and Charles V. 

Bell, both of Charlotte, and Jack Greenberg of the NAACP Legal Defense 

Fund staff in New York. 
48056

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One of the 3 Negro students from Johnson C. Smith University who were arrested for lunch counter protests…

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