GREENSBORO, N.C. — Standing before the Woolworth’s lunch counter inside the International Civil Rights Center and Museum, the weight of history feels even heavier after the death of Joseph McNeil , one of the Greensboro Four.

McNeil, who alongside three other North Carolina A&T students challenged segregation at the counter in 1960, died Thursday morning. His actions helped ignite the sit-in movement, sparking demonstrations across the South and changing the course of American history.

In a statement from McNeil’s family, his son, Joseph McNeil Jr., said his father’s “legacy is a testament to the power of courage and conviction. His impact on the civil rights movement and his service to the nation will never be forgotten.”

McNeil returned to the A&T campus earlier this year for the 65

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