This is an email that was sent late Friday to all Duke employees
regarding today’s protest at Duke by the New Black Panther Party.
Imagine how this email would have read if the Ku Klux Klan were
planning a rally and saying they were going to enter Duke’s campus. The
question is, will Brodhead meet with them as so many of Durham’s
leaders plan to:

Date: Fri, 28 Apr 2006 21:11:43 -0400

From: President Richard H. Brodhead

Subject: Response to Reports of a Possible Demonstration at Duke on May 1, 2006

As you may know, we learned from reports in the news media last
evening that an organization known as the New Black Panther Party had
announced that it plans to hold a demonstration at the Chapel Drive
entrance to West Campus on Monday morning, May 1. These reports
indicated the group intended to enter the campus and that they may be
carrying guns. Guns are not permitted on Duke’s campus.

This afternoon, Duke Police were in contact with
representatives of that organization. Duke Police were told
that the group plans to hold a press conference/demonstration on
Durham city property outside West Campus on Monday at 10:00a.m.
They informed Duke Police that they have no intention of entering the
campus to be disruptive in any way. They also assured us they
will not have guns.

Durham Police will require that any demonstrations on city
property near our campus will abide by all appropriate state and local
laws.

Exams Week begins on Monday. This is a period of
considerable stress for our students, especially following the already
stressful events of the past several weeks. We will not let the
safety of our campus be jeopardized, nor will we allow our students’
lives to be disrupted.

Duke University will have additional officers assigned.
Any attempted access by this group to our campus will be tightly
restricted and no disruption of the university will be permitted.
This information has been conveyed to the representatives of the New
Black Panther Party. Again, they have assured Duke Police that
they plan to peacefully assemble off of our campus and do not intend to
enter university property.

Duke has gone through a difficult period. I am proud of
the way this campus community has responded to the many tensions and
pressures we have been facing. I wish our students well on their
exams. All university activities will go on as scheduled on
Monday. Duke Police is taking all necessary precautions to ensure
that this is the case.