[1] Younge was an enlisted service member in the United States Navy, where he served for two years before being medically discharged.

[2][3] Younge was an active member of the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee (SNCC) and a leader of the Tuskegee Institute Advancement League.

[4][5] Younge was the first African-American university student to be murdered in the United States due to his actions in support of the Civil Rights Movement.

[4][6] Three days after his death, SNCC became the first civil rights organization in the United States to oppose the Vietnam War, partly on the grounds that like Younge, innocent civilians should not face deadly violence.

The group attempted to enter white restaurants, held rallies, and picketed establishments that refused to hire black people.

[11] In September 1965, Younge was arrested and jailed after attempting to drive a group of African-Americans to get registered to vote in Lee County, Alabama.

[12] Younge continued his efforts to get blacks registered to vote in Macon County, Alabama four months after being released from jail, up until his death.

[21] After Younge's death, the SNCC decided to publicly join the opposition to United States involvement in the Vietnam War.

[7] A statement on January 6, 1966, wrote that: The Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee has a right and a responsibility to dissent with United States foreign policy on any issue when it sees fit.