Bapst Library

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April 9, 1968 – One day after the assassination of Martin Luther King, Jr., BC holds a memorial service on Bapst Lawn and cancels classes to encourage students to attend a demonstration from Boston Common to Post Office Square. This event gathers over 10,000 attendees who came to mourn King’s assassination. The Heights described an “unspoken feeling of solidarity” at the gathering. The University Committee Against Racism leads all-day workshops on “Racism and the Black Rebellion.” Student leaders meet with and lobby administrators for the memorial, lack of classes, and workshop. Academic Vice President Rev. Charles Donovan, SJ, is initially hesitant to cancel classes because “he feared giving an impression of panic.” (James Franklin, "Colleges and Boston morn assasination of Dr. King," The Heights / Photo courtesy of BC Digital Collections, Bapst Library exterior - 1963)