In response to the assassination of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., and later in support of increased wages for striking food service and housekeeping workers, Duke students staged the Silent Vigil in April 1968. The students first peacefully occupied the house of President Douglas Knight, then moved to the main quad. The weeklong Vigil, which included speeches, singing, and periods of silence, led to an increase in the minimum wage for the largely Black dining and housekeeping staff.
"Duke Community Vigil for Racial Justice," University Archives Poster Collection, Box 6, Folder 1, Duke University Archives, David M. Rubenstein Rare Book & Manuscript Library, Duke University.
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