Celebrations throughout January and on Feb. 1 will mark the 50th anniversary of the Greensboro sit-ins and the opening of the International Civil Rights Center & Museum.

The museum pays tribute to the four N.C. A&T college students who sat down at the segregated Woolworth’s lunch counter on Feb. 1, 1960 and reignited the civil rights movement.

Events include:

* Forum on civil rights law and the Greensboro sit-ins, as part of Elon Law School’s second annual Martin Luther King Jr. program, 6 p.m. Thursday, Elon Law School, 201 N. Greene St.

Participants include Franklin E. McCain, one of the sit-in participants; William H. Chafe, author of “Civilities and Civil Rights: Greensboro, North Carolina, and the Black Struggle for Freedom”; and Romallus Murphy, former general counsel for the North Carolina NAACP.

The forum is free and open to the public, although registration is required. RSVP by Tuesday to reserve a seat, by e-mailing lawreservations@elon.edu or by calling 279-9275.

* Town Hall Forum, “21st Activism and Protest, the State of the Civil Rights Movement” 6 p.m. to 8 p.m., Jan 28, N.C. A&T Alumni Event Center. Co-sponsored by N.C. A&T and Bennett College
* 2010 Community Gospel Concert with conductor Henry Panion, 8 p.m., Jan. 29, Westover Church, 505 Muirs Chapel Road.
* 50th Anniversary Gala, 7 p.m. to 9 p.m., Jan. 30, Koury Convention Center. Annual benefit dinner honors the unsung heroes of the movement and individuals who have made outstanding contributions in the continuing struggle for justice and racial equality.
* Celebration of Unity Service featuring Grammy Award-winning singer Yolanda Adams, 6 p.m. to 8 p.m., Jan. 31, Greensboro Coliseum. Free and open to the public.
* 50th Sit-in Anniversary Breakfast sponsored by N.C. A&T, 5:30 a.m., Feb. 1, Empire Ballroom, 203 South Elm St. The university’s Human Rights Medal will be presented by the chancellor at the breakfast.

This is a free ticketed event and is open to the public. Tickets are available at the A&T ticket office.