The Quifforfton
VOLUME Lll
GREENSBORO, N.C. APRIL 18, 1968
Racial Tension Mounts Here Following King's Death
On April 4, Martin Luther King was
assassinated in Memphis, Tennessee. The
death of this great man changed the
course of a Guilford College week-end
considerably. When King's death was announced at Guilford, many different reactions were noticed in the dorms. In
some sections, there seemed to be an
atmosphere of high excitement, as if it
was all a big joke, while in other areas,
there was a shocked silence. Students
stayed up late to hear the news on television and radio, and many were very
disturbed.
Friday, the campus was a little quiter
than usual, but most people continued
their daily routine. Comments made about
King's death were generally sympathetic,
although some voiced opinions such as,
"Well, got rid of another nigger."
Because numerous students felt strongly about King's death, a memorial service
was held Friday Night, in the New Garden
Meetinghouse. It was in the traditional
manner of Friends; (Quakers) a silent
iVieeting. During the service, a poem
written by King was read, and the hymn,
"We Would Be Building", was sung. At the
end of the service, everyone there joined
hands in a friendship circle and sang
"We Shall Overcome".
Riots that night errupted across the
country to Chicago, Washington, and
Baltimore. In Greensboro, three policemen
were shot by sniper fire at A&T University. Because of this, and other incidents
of violence, the mayor ordered a curfew
from 7 P.M. to 6 A.M., until further
notice. Other restrictions were called by
the governor - no liquor, fire arms, or
demonstrations were to be permitted.
However, before this took place, a silent
vigil in memory of Dr. King was held in
front of Guilford College. Over Ninety
people participated, including a group of
Quakers attending a Young Friends of
North America meeting.
The first night of the curfew, a blockade was set up in front of Guilford
College along Friendly Road. This waste
prevent unauthorized vehicles from enter-
in Greensboro. Although the National
Guard didn't seem to be making much
fuss about anyone leaving. Quite a few'
students came to the edge of the campus
to watch the few National Guardsmen
patrol the street. Each Guardsman carried
a gun with a bayonet, and was wearing
fatigues. They didn't seem to mind the
spectators, and even let a few cross the
street to "get their mail at the post office".
Throughout the curfew, people were
arrested for breaking it, and some were
carrying arms. (In case anyone was thinking of breaking the curfew, but didn't, or
did, and wasn't caught, the offenders now
face a possible thirty day jail sentence,
and/or a fifty dollar fine.) The curfew
ended Wednesday, but it was noticed that
certain girls missed the companionship of
The National Guardsmen!
