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79-662: After the Assassination of Martin Luther King Jr. in 1968, students protested against the University of Michigan administration for lack of support for minorities on campus. The university agreed to certain concessions and to increase integration on campus. The 1970 Black Action Movement protests first began in late 1969, when black student organizations began to chafe at the slow progress of this proposed integration . Following their decision to become more proactive,

158-471: A nearly fatal stabbing in 1958, and made its recognition part of his philosophy. He taught that murder could not stop the struggle for equal rights. After the assassination of President Kennedy in 1963, King told his wife, Coretta Scott King , "This is what is going to happen to me also. I keep telling you, this is a sick society." King traveled to Memphis, Tennessee , in support of striking African-American city sanitation workers. The workers had staged

237-413: A "callow retreat from reality." The 1975 Black Action Movement protests were brought about for a few reasons. One of these was the lack of progress by the university in implementing the demands of the first movement. Another reason was the expulsion of a black nursing student, for preparing a patient's insulin shot, who was not allowed an expulsion hearing. The final reason was the university's rejection of

316-535: A 39-year-old such as King, which Branch attributed to the stress of King's 13 years in the civil rights movement. Shortly after the shot was fired, witnesses saw a man, later believed to be James Earl Ray , fleeing from a rooming-house across the street from the Lorraine Motel. Ray had been renting a room in the rooming-house. Police found a package dumped close to the site that included a rifle and binoculars, both bearing Ray's fingerprints. Ray had purchased

395-580: A Regent-approved candidate for deanship in the College of Literature, Science, and the Arts . While almost 300 students occupied the central administration building for three days in February 1975, the protests were considered milder than those of 1970. Led by a "coalition of Black, Chicano, Asian-American, and Native-American student group representatives," they presented six demands calling for representation of

474-532: A colleague from the Southern Christian Leadership Conference , first believed King was dead, but found he still had a pulse. King was rushed to St. Joseph's Hospital , where doctors opened his chest and performed cardiopulmonary resuscitation . He never regained consciousness, and died at 7:05 p.m. According to Branch, King's autopsy revealed that his heart was in the condition of a 60-year-old man rather than that of

553-633: A commemoration for the fraternity's centennial, a new Memorial Headquarters was formally dedicated in St. Louis. This served as the official home of the Grand Lodge until 2001. In 1974, the Beta Alpha chapter at Georgia Tech became a Christian chapter while remaining a full member of Theta Xi and the Georgia Tech IFC. The chapter remains Christian today and is the only Christian chapter of

632-695: A conspiracy. In May 1977, Kershaw presented evidence to the House Select Committee on Assassinations that he believed exonerated his client, but tests did not prove conclusive. Kershaw also claimed that Ray was somewhere else when the shots were fired, but he could not find a witness to corroborate the claim. Ray and seven other convicts escaped from Brushy Mountain State Penitentiary in Petros, Tennessee on June 10, 1977. They were recaptured on June 13 and returned to prison. A year

711-468: A direct result, several of Theta Xi's traditions were altered. The coat-of-arms' fleur-de-lis was changed to have crescent moons in tradition with Kappa Sigma Kappa and the “pledge” pins were also changed to incorporate Kappa Sigma Kappa's traditions diagonal white band. The fraternity flower was changed from the white carnation to the blue iris. Finally, the membership manual was changed from The Theta Xi Pledge Manual to The Quest for Theta Xi . In 1964, as

790-556: A guilty plea to avoid a conviction and potential death penalty . Ray was sentenced to a 99-year prison term, but he recanted his confession three days later. Ray fired Foreman and claimed that a man whom he had met in Montreal by the alias of "Raoul" was involved, as was Ray's brother Johnny, but that Ray himself was not. He said through his new attorney Jack Kershaw that, although he did not "personally shoot King", he may have been "partially responsible without knowing it", hinting at

869-593: A mainstay among all chapters of the fraternity, as well as the numerous other charities supported by individual chapters. On June 20, 1986 Theta Xi was named the Outstanding Volunteer Organization for 1985-86 by the National Multiple Sclerosis Society. Theta Xi takes exceptional pride in its members' involvement in these and other charities. The Theta Xi Foundation was founded in 1949 in order to promote

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948-520: A more diverse and inclusive campus. However, in February 2017 racist emails were sent by a hacker to all students in the College of Engineering . They included vulgar racist language and phrases such as " Heil Trump ". This incident and the lack of response from administrators prompted the student organization Students4Justice (S4J) to occupy the Michigan Union until administrators met their demands, which included meeting with students, improving

1027-495: A new organization, and on April 1, a committee consisting of Waite, Buel, Brainerd, and Packard began preparing a new constitution. By April 6, Buel presented monograms for two new names, Theta Xi and Theta Psi. Theta Xi was chosen to avoid confusion regarding a local fraternity called Theta Psi at Yale. Within its first forty years, six chapters were established at Yale , Stevens Institute of Technology , MIT , Columbia University , Cornell University , and Lehigh University . It

1106-583: A poem by the Greek playwright Aeschylus : "Even in our sleep, pain which cannot forget falls drop by drop upon the heart until, in our own despair, against our will, comes wisdom through the awful grace of God." In conclusion, he said that the country needed and wanted unity between blacks and whites, and asked the audience members to pray for the King family and the country, again quoting the Greeks. Kennedy's speech

1185-421: A reservoir of strength to draw upon when faced with conditions beyond comprehension. At the 111th Anniversary Convention held on August 12, 1974 Theta Xi announced its adoption of the fight against Multiple Sclerosis as its National Service Project. At the 129th Anniversary Convention held on August 4–6, 1993 the fraternity announced its second alternate NSP as Habitat for Humanity . These charities are

1264-576: A ride for freedom and ended segregation in interstate travel. King repeated the phrase "If I had sneezed" several more times, recalling numerous other events and acts of civil disobedience from the previous several years: the Albany Movement (1962), the March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom in 1963, and the Selma to Montgomery March (1965). As he neared the close, he prophetically referred to

1343-526: A secular national fraternity in the United States. Their model expanded to the Gamma Phi chapter at Georgia Southern University in 2008, however that chapter has since reverted to the traditional non-religious status. Beginning in 1999, Theta Xi began offering Leadership academies to its active brothers. That year, the first President's Academy was held to train new chapter presidents, funded by

1422-532: A segregationist, described the assassination as a "senseless, regrettable act". But Governor Lester Maddox of Georgia called King "an enemy of our country" and threatened to "personally raise" the state capitol flag back from half-staff. California Governor Ronald Reagan described the assassination as "a great tragedy that began when we began compromising with law and order and people started choosing which laws they'd break". South Carolina senator Strom Thurmond wrote to his constituents: "We are now witnessing

1501-732: A successful new march later that week. His airline flight to Memphis was delayed by a bomb threat, but he arrived in time to make a planned speech to a gathering at the Mason Temple (world headquarters of the Church of God in Christ ). At the Mason Temple, King delivered his famous " I've Been to the Mountaintop " speech. In it, he recalled his 1958 attempted assassination, noting that the doctor who treated him had said that because

1580-435: A walkout on February 11, 1968, to protest unequal wages and working conditions imposed by mayor Henry Loeb . At the time, Memphis paid black workers significantly lower wages than it did white workers. There were no city-issued uniforms, no restrooms, no recognized union, and no grievance procedure for the numerous occasions on which they were underpaid. During Loeb's tenure as mayor, conditions did not significantly improve, and

1659-441: A whole lot of black people today. There no longer needs to be intellectual discussions, black people know that they have to get guns. White America will live to cry that she killed Dr. King last night. It would have been better if she had killed Rap Brown and/or Stokely Carmichael, but when she killed Dr. King, she lost. Despite the urging for calm by many leaders, a nationwide wave of riots erupted in more than 100 cities. After

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1738-577: The South . David Halberstam , who reported on King's funeral, recounted a comment heard at an affluent white dinner party: One of the wives—station wagon, three children, forty-five-thousand-dollar house—leaned over and said, "I wish you had spit in his face for me." It was a stunning moment; I wondered for a long time afterwards what King could possibly have done to her, in what conceivable way he could have threatened her, why this passionate hate. Reporters recounted that many whites were also grief-stricken at

1817-737: The violent backlash beginning to emerge across the country. The next day, Kennedy gave a prepared response, " On the Mindless Menace of Violence ", in Cleveland , Ohio . Although still considered significant, it is given much less historical attention than his Indianapolis speech. President Lyndon B. Johnson was in the Oval Office that evening, planning a meeting in Hawaii with Vietnam War military commanders. After press secretary George Christian informed him at 8:20 p.m. of

1896-473: The 10% balance in the state at the time. Other requests were for better support for minority students, including a recruiter for Chicano students and a Black Student Center, financial support by way of extra grants and scholarships, and the establishment of a Black studies program. The campaign closed the University of Michigan for 18 days through strikes, protests, picketing, blocking of buildings and streets, and interruption and shutting down of classes. During

1975-606: The Black Student Union, Black Law Student Alliance, Black Psychologist, and the Black Educational Caucus among others entered into talks with university administrators. Accepting an invitation to dine and discuss with the university president in February 1970, the groups staged a demonstration on his lawn and demanded that by the beginning of the 1973–1974 school year, the balance of African American students and administrators proportionately reflect

2054-463: The Chicano, Asian American, and Native American communities as well as the reinstatement of the expelled Black nursing student. The occupiers elected to leave voluntarily after receiving word, from University of Michigan President Robben W. Fleming, that discussions/negotiations would take place the following week. Because the protesters were never asked to leave, allowing them freedom to protest, no one

2133-614: The Theta Xi Foundation. In 2006, this was expanded to include Rising Stars Academy, which aims to make first-year initiates more active in the fraternity. The Theta Xi Fraternity Chapter House at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2013. In 2014, Theta Xi celebrated its sesquicentennial. In honor of this occasion, the National Convention

2212-452: The United States , coming several years after the assassination of John F. Kennedy in 1963 and the assassination of Malcolm X in 1965, and two months before the assassination of Robert F. Kennedy in June 1968. As early as the mid-1950s, Martin Luther King Jr. had received death threats because of his prominence in the civil rights movement. He had confronted the risk of death, including

2291-573: The address for the Theta Xi Foundation remaining in St. Louis. The Purpose of Theta Xi is to provide a college home environment for its active members in which fellowship and alumni guidance lead to wholesome mental, moral, physical, and spiritual growth. To that end Theta Xi actively supports and augments college and community efforts to make individual members more mature and chapter groups more useful units of society. Through its alumni and undergraduate leadership Theta Xi endeavors to assist each member to develop: ONE, intellectual curiosity that assures

2370-425: The assassination to honor his most deeply held beliefs. James Farmer Jr. said: Dr. King would be greatly distressed to find that his blood had triggered off bloodshed and disorder. I think instead the nation should be quiet; black and white, and we should be in a prayerful mood, which would be in keeping with his life. We should make that kind of dedication and commitment to the goals which his life served to solving

2449-461: The assassination, he canceled the trip to focus on the nation. He assigned Attorney General Ramsey Clark to investigate the assassination in Memphis. He made a personal call to King's wife, Coretta Scott King , and declared April 7 a national day of mourning on which the U.S. flag would be flown at half-staff . Colleagues of King in the civil rights movement called for a nonviolent response to

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2528-469: The assassination, the city of Memphis quickly settled the strike on favorable terms to the sanitation workers. On April 8, King's widow Coretta Scott King and her four young children led a crowd estimated at 40,000 in a silent march through the streets of Memphis to honor King and support the cause of the city's black sanitation workers. The next day, funeral rites were held in King's hometown of Atlanta, Georgia . The service at Ebenezer Baptist Church

2607-435: The audience to pray for the King family and to follow King's practice of nonviolence. Mankiewicz and speechwriter Adam Walinsky drafted notes for Kennedy's use, but he refused them, using some that he had likely written during the ride to the site of the speech. The Indianapolis chief of police advised Kennedy that he could not provide him protection and was worried that he would be at risk when talking about King's death before

2686-543: The bias incident reporting protocol, fulfilling the remaining demands of the #BBUM movement, such as affordable campus housing and increasing Black enrollment to 10%, and creating an activist space on campus for students of color to organize for social justice. This activist space would be modeled after an earlier building discontinued by the university called the Ella Baker - Nelson Mandela Center for Anti-Racist Education. The University of Michigan administration responded to

2765-533: The bomb threat: And then I got to Memphis. And some began to say the threats ... or talk about the threats that were out. What would happen to me from some of our sick white brothers? Well, I don't know what will happen now. We've got some difficult days ahead. But it doesn't matter with me now. Because I've been to the mountaintop. And I don't mind. Like anybody, I would like to live a long life. Longevity has its place. But I'm not concerned about that now. I just want to do God's will. And He's allowed me to go up to

2844-486: The community" to monitor the progress made by the university. In 2013 members of the University of Michigan's Black Student Union revived the Black Action Movement. The revival was prompted specifically by a Theta Xi fraternity party, whose invitation described the party as "World Star Hip Hop presents: Hood Ratchet Thursday". Outrage over the party's racist theme and complaints led to the cancellation of

2923-551: The crime. On March 10, 1969, he pleaded guilty and was sentenced to 99 years in the Tennessee State Penitentiary . He later made many attempts to withdraw his guilty plea and to be tried by a jury, but was unsuccessful. Ray died in prison in 1998. The King family and others believe that the assassination was the result of a conspiracy involving the U.S. government, the mafia , and Memphis police , as alleged by Loyd Jowers in 1993. They believe that Ray

3002-523: The crowd that what brought him there was "the unfinished business of the first three fights of the Black Action Movements." The problems fought for remain unsolved 44 years after the initial protest began. Included in the Black Student Union demands were a new Trotter Multicultural Center in a more accessible location on Central Campus, better representation on campus for blacks, and more affordable housing options. The University President at

3081-614: The day of the assassination while on the campaign trail for the Democratic presidential nomination in Indiana , Senator Robert F. Kennedy learned of the shooting before boarding a plane to Indianapolis . Kennedy was scheduled to make a speech there in a predominantly black neighborhood. Kennedy did not learn that King had died until he landed in Indianapolis. Kennedy's press secretary, Frank Mankiewicz , suggested that he ask

3160-590: The demands of S4J with a 35-page report and has agreed to hold private meetings with leaders of the group to negotiate further on the demands. Assassination of Martin Luther King Jr. City of Memphis City of Nashville Other localities Campaigns Death and memorial Martin Luther King Jr. , an American civil rights activist, was fatally shot at the Lorraine Motel in Memphis, Tennessee , on April 4, 1968, at 6:01 p.m. CST . He

3239-417: The domestic problems. That's the memorial, that's the kind of memorial we should build for him. It's just not appropriate for there to be violent retaliations, and that kind of demonstration in the wake of the murder of this pacifist and man of peace. However, the more militant Stokely Carmichael called for forceful action, saying: White America killed Dr. King last night. She made it a whole lot easier for

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3318-662: The education and growth of members of the fraternity. It is set up to aid in developing the members into responsible citizens that will contribute to the well-being of society. Contributions that mostly come from alumni and friends provide the money for the Foundation. The Foundation consists of two Funds, the Chapter Education Fund and the Unicorn Fund. The funds raised are used to sponsor several programs such as President's Academy, Rising Stars Academy, and

3397-400: The evening of October 30, 1863, George Brainerd tendered his resignation to the society. This resignation was unanimously declined, but ultimately created a rift. Soon after, talks began circulating of affiliating with a larger organization such as Sigma Phi . However, when Sigma Phi declined to issue a charter, this only increased tensions. On March 12, 1864, voting took place for members of

3476-477: The evidence, the jury concluded that Jowers and others were "part of a conspiracy to kill King" and awarded the family the symbolic $ 100 they requested in damages. The allegations and the finding of the Memphis jury were later disputed by the United States Department of Justice in 2000 due to perceived lack of evidence. The assassination was one of four major assassinations of the 1960s in

3555-588: The gruesome February 1968 deaths of two workers in a garbage-compacting truck turned mounting tensions into a strike. In March 1968, after speaking in Greensboro, Alabama , King was hunted by Ku Klux Klan members and used a local home, now the Safe House Museum , as a safe house before travelling to Memphis. King participated in a massive march in Memphis on March 28, 1968, which ended in violence. On April 3, King returned to Memphis to attempt

3634-497: The highest scholarship rating consistent with his ability; TWO, habits that lead to better mental and physical health; THREE, sincerity in his association with others and confidence in himself; FOUR, responsibility to chapter, college, community, and country; FIVE, leadership that comes from practicing the principles of democratic self-government; SIX, interests and activities outside regular scholastic studies that employ spare time to advantage; SEVEN, spiritual understanding that provides

3713-433: The hungry", "clothe the naked", "be right on the [Vietnam] war question", and "love and serve humanity". The FBI investigation found fingerprints on various objects left in the bathroom from which the gunfire had come. Evidence included a Remington Gamemaster rifle from which at least one shot had been fired. The fingerprints were traced to an escaped convict named James Earl Ray . Two months after assassinating King, Ray

3792-414: The injustice of such an act, against all white people, I would only say that I can also feel in my own heart the same kind of feeling. I had a member of my family killed, but he was killed by a white man ." These remarks surprised his aides, who had never heard him speak publicly of his brother's death. Kennedy said that the country had to make an effort to "go beyond these rather difficult times" and quoted

3871-496: The investigation remain classified and are slated to remain secret until 2027. In 2010, as in earlier years, some argued for passage of a proposed Records Collection Act , similar to a 1992 law concerning the Kennedy assassination , to require the immediate release of the records. The measure did not pass. A crowd of 300,000 attended King's funeral on April 9. Vice President Hubert Humphrey attended on behalf of Johnson, who

3950-565: The knife used to stab him was so close to his aorta, any sudden movement, even a sneeze, might have killed him. He referred to a letter written by a young girl who told him that she was happy that he had not sneezed. He used that reference to say: I, too, am happy that I didn't sneeze. Because if I had sneezed, I wouldn't have been around here in 1960, when students all over the South started sitting-in at lunch counters. If I had sneezed, I wouldn't have been around here in 1961, when we decided to take

4029-466: The last week of the strike, attendance of classes in the College of Literature, Science, and the Arts (LSA) dropped by 75%. The settlement reached on 1 April 1970 involved the university accepting the 10% figure as a goal. In a speech later that month, U.S. Vice President Spiro Agnew criticized university president Robben Fleming for his "surrender" to the students, calling the university's settlement

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4108-502: The late 1960s, 1970s, and 1980s. On September 26, 2016, posters were found around the school with anti-black messages. Following a week of protests, racist and homophobic posters were again found around the university campus. As a result, University of Michigan President Mark Schlissel , along with fellow students and faculty in October, 2016 generated a new Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Plan, which aims to outline steps toward creating

4187-473: The leader's death. In some cases, the shock of events altered opinions. A survey later sent to a group of college trustees revealed that their opinions of King had risen after his assassination. The New York Times praised King in an editorial, calling his murder a "national disaster" and his cause "just". Public figures generally praised King in the days following his death. Others expressed political ideology. Governor George Wallace of Alabama, known as

4266-637: The meeting tonight. Play it real pretty." According to the Rev. Samuel Kyles, who was standing several feet away, King was leaning over the balcony railing in front of Room 306 and was speaking with the Rev. Jesse Jackson when the shot rang out. King was struck in the face at 6:01 p.m. by a single .30-06 bullet , fired from a Remington Model 760 rifle. The bullet entered through King's right cheek, breaking his jaw and several vertebrae as it traveled down his spinal cord, severing his jugular vein and major arteries, before lodging in his shoulder. The force of

4345-480: The mountain. And I've looked over. And I've seen the promised land. I may not get there with you. But I want you to know tonight, that we, as a people, will get to the promised land! And so I'm happy, tonight. I'm not worried about anything. I'm not fearing any man. My eyes have seen the glory of the coming of the Lord! On Thursday, April 4, 1968, King was staying in room 306 at the Lorraine Motel in Memphis. The motel

4424-552: The one that had touched her the most. For some, King's assassination meant the end of the strategy of nonviolence . Others in the movement reaffirmed the need to carry on King's and the movement's work. Leaders within the SCLC confirmed that they would carry on the Poor People's Campaign that year despite the loss of King. Some black leaders argued the need to continue King's and the movement's tradition of nonviolence. During

4503-458: The party. It also fueled student to want to bring attention to the decreasing numbers in black student enrollment at the university as well as awareness of the treatment of those students. On Tuesday November 19, 2013, UofM's Black Student Union started the Twitter hashtag #BBUM, (Being Black at the University of Michigan), encouraging students to share their stories about the treatment of blacks at

4582-544: The predominantly black crowd. However, Kennedy decided to proceed. Standing on a flatbed truck, he spoke for four minutes and 57 seconds. Kennedy was the first to tell the audience that King had died. Some of the attendees screamed and wailed in grief. Several of Kennedy's aides were worried that the delivery of this information would result in a riot. When the audience quieted, Kennedy acknowledged that many would be filled with anger. He said: "For those of you who are black and are tempted to be filled with hatred and mistrust of

4661-419: The predominantly white school. They had over 1,000 student responses. Despite black people making up only 4.1% of the freshman class at the time, the hashtag and stories garnered national attention. On January 20, 2014, leaders of the Black Student Union at the University of Michigan held a rally during which they delivered the seven demands that they had for the university. The Black Student Union treasurer told

4740-613: The response of the university and Ann Arbor police departments to a fight on campus; the university housing's efforts to address racist flyers dispersed on campus; and concerns of the African American faculty over the "racial climate on campus". In 1970, the university announced the goal of having 10 percent Black students to match that of the Black population of the state of Michigan. Black enrollment fluctuated between 4.9 and 7.7 percent before 1987, when percentage of Black students

4819-524: The rifle under an alias six days earlier. A worldwide manhunt was triggered that culminated in Ray's arrest at Heathrow Airport , London, two months later. On March 10, 1969, he pleaded guilty to the first degree murder of Martin Luther King Jr.; he later recanted. King's widow, Coretta, had difficulty informing her children that their father was dead. She received a large number of telegrams, including one from Lee Harvey Oswald 's mother that she regarded as

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4898-490: The shot ripped King's necktie off. King fell backward onto the balcony, unconscious. Abernathy heard the shot from inside the motel room and ran to the balcony to find King on the deck, bleeding profusely from the wound in his cheek. Jesse Jackson stated after the shooting that he cradled King's head as King lay on the balcony, but this account was disputed by other colleagues of King; Jackson later changed his statement to say that he had "reached out" for King. Andrew Young ,

4977-501: The social fraternities today, Theta Xi was the only one founded during the Civil War. Its Grand Lodge is headquartered in downtown Atlanta . Since its inception, Theta Xi has grown to include more than 60,000 initiated members. Currently, there are approximately 45 active chapters, and 1 colony. The Theta Xi Fraternity Chapter House at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute is listed on the National Register of Historic Places . Theta Xi

5056-521: The state as a hindrance toward their goal of increasing Black enrollment. After the Supreme Court decision, the Black Student Union again met with some of the heads of University of Michigan in order to generate a plan to increase black student enrollment and outreach. The 2016 Freshman class profile showed that Black students made up only 5% of the class, half of what the percentage the BAM fought for in

5135-594: The time, Mary Sue Coleman, responded to the demands by coming up with her own three-pronged approach, addressing some but not all of the demands raised. On April 22, 2014, the Supreme court upheld the Michigan law banning affirmative action. With the shrinking percentages of black enrollment in Michigan University's' this ruling was seen by the University of Michigan Black Student Union and students across

5214-417: The whirlwind sowed years ago when some preachers and teachers began telling people that each man could be his own judge in his own case." The Federal Bureau of Investigation was assigned the lead to investigate King's death. J. Edgar Hoover , who had previously made efforts to undermine King's reputation, told President Johnson that his agency would attempt to find the culprit(s). Many documents related to

5293-465: Was 5.4. The university's vice president for Student Services stated that too few high-school graduates from large cities were academically qualified for admission. Additionally, the university provided the Black Student Union with an independent annual budget, created a position to monitor minority affairs at the university, and created an advisory committee including "representatives from Black faculty, student and administrators' organizations and members of

5372-454: Was a scapegoat . In 1999, the family filed a wrongful death lawsuit against Jowers for the sum of $ 10 million. During closing arguments, their attorney asked the jury to award damages of $ 100, to make the point that "it was not about the money". During the trial, both sides presented evidence alleging a government conspiracy. The accused government agencies could not defend themselves or respond because they were not named as defendants. Based on

5451-442: Was added to Ray's sentence. Ray worked for the remainder of his life unsuccessfully attempting to withdraw his guilty plea and secure a full trial. In 1997, King's son Dexter met with Ray; he publicly supported Ray's efforts to obtain a retrial . Theta Xi Theta Xi ( ΘΞ ) is a North American Greek-letter social college fraternity . It was founded at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI) on April 29, 1864. Of all

5530-565: Was arrested or received any penalty. While the administration building was being occupied, nearly 500 students from the Graduate Employers Organization (GEO) held rallies in support of the occupiers in the plaza outside of the Administration building. The 1987 Black Action Movement arose after several incidents, including racist jokes that were broadcast during a show at the student-run radio station WJJX ;

5609-520: Was at a meeting on the Vietnam War at Camp David ; there were fears that Johnson might be hit with protests and abuse over the war if he attended the funeral. At his widow's request, King's last sermon at Ebenezer Baptist Church was played at the funeral; it was a recording of his "Drum Major" sermon given on February 4, 1968. In that sermon, he asked that, at his funeral, no mention of his awards and honors be made, but that it be said he tried to "feed

5688-476: Was captured at London 's Heathrow Airport while he was trying to depart the United Kingdom for Angola , Rhodesia (today Zimbabwe ) or South Africa on a false Canadian passport in the name of Ramon George Sneyd. Ray was quickly extradited to Tennessee and charged with King's murder. Ray confessed to the assassination on March 10, 1969. On the advice of his attorney Percy Foreman , Ray took

5767-482: Was credited with assisting in the prevention of post-assassination rioting in Indianapolis on a night when such events broke out in major cities across the country. It is widely considered one of the greatest speeches in American history. Kennedy canceled all of his scheduled campaign appearances and withdrew to his hotel room. Several phone conversations with black community leaders convinced him to speak out against

5846-463: Was founded on April 29, 1864 at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute in Troy, New York as an engineering fraternity however, now a social fraternity. Its founders were: All of the original founders were members of a local fraternity called Sigma Delta, established in 1859 to rival Theta Delta Chi , which was then a secret society at RPI. Debates were common and encouraged at Sigma Delta meetings; however, on

5925-585: Was held in Troy, New York to commemorate the founding of Theta Xi. William S. Mason, considered to be one of the greatest benefactors and supporters of Theta Xi, was the main supporter of the fraternity's adoption of Benjamin Franklin as its patron saint. Although the fraternity had been headquartered in St. Louis since 1924, on October 3, 2022, it opened new headquarters at 260 Peachtree Street in Atlanta with

6004-460: Was nationally televised, as were other events. A funeral procession transported King's body for 3 + 1 ⁄ 2 miles (5.6 km) through the streets of Atlanta, followed by more than 100,000 mourners, from the church to his alma mater , Morehouse College . A second service was held there before the burial. In the wake of King's assassination, journalists reported some callous or hostile reactions from parts of white America, particularly in

6083-469: Was not until 1905 that a westward expansion occurred with chapters at Purdue and, a month later, Washington University in St. Louis . The first west coast chapter came in 1910 at UC Berkeley , and in April 1921, the first southern chapter was founded at LSU . In 1962, talks began of folding Kappa Sigma Kappa , a smaller, struggling fraternity into Theta Xi. The merger was completed on August 20, 1962. As

6162-536: Was owned by a businessman, Walter Bailey, and was named after his wife. The Rev. Ralph Abernathy , a colleague and friend, later told the House Select Committee on Assassinations that he and King had stayed in Room 306 at the Lorraine Motel so often that it was known as the "King–Abernathy Suite". King's last words were to musician Ben Branch , who was scheduled to perform that night at a planned event. King said, "Ben, make sure you play ' Take My Hand, Precious Lord ' in

6241-503: Was rushed to St. Joseph's Hospital , where he died at 7:05 p.m at age 39. He was a prominent leader of the civil rights movement and a Nobel Peace Prize laureate who was known for his use of nonviolence and civil disobedience . James Earl Ray , a fugitive from the Missouri State Penitentiary , was arrested on June 8, 1968, at London's Heathrow Airport , extradited to the United States and charged with

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