Duke students and faculty members joined Durham community members Sunday to march in a display of solidarity for the three indicted members of the 2005-2006 men's lacrosse team.
Marchers gathered at the Durham Courthouse at about 11 a.m. and marched to Koskinen Stadium on campus, where they were met by practicing lacrosse players.
The Walk of Support was organized by a variety of University and community groups, including Concerned Duke Mothers and Duke Students for an Ethical Durham.
"We want to send a message that injustice has occurred," said senior Courtney Kremers, a girlfriend of a Duke lacrosse player who graduated last year.
About 100 people turned out to march, carrying district attorney campaign signs with Mike Nifong's name crossed out and wearing buttons that read "Innocent Until Proven Innocent" and "Fantastic Lies."
As organizers handed out wristbands with "Duke Lacrosse 2006" on one side and "Innocent! #6, #13, #45" on the other, the bundled-up crowd gathered together and set off on the march amid cheers and applause.
Terri Campbell, a lifelong Durham resident who said she had no connection to the University or the players, carried a sign that read "...and justice for all."
Campbell said she got involved with the march after watching news coverage on the case.
A wide variety of Durham residents showed up for the event, from Scott Meyer, a lacrosse player from a local high school, to Marge Dooley, a nurse who works at the Duke University Medical Center.
Dooley said she hopes the march would show prosecutors that the Durham people felt the case was handled badly.
"I just think it was a travesty of justice from the very beginning, that what they are doing to these boys-doing to their families-is just terrible," she said. "Regardless of how it turns out, they've ruined their lives. They've ruined their reputations."
Several marchers said they were distressed that the previously scheduled Feb. 5 hearing on the case was postponed until May. "I wish they would get on with their work rather than put it off another three months," Durham resident Joe Collie said.
Collie said he was not surprised by the turnout for the march, although he said he would have liked to see even more people participate.
Dooley, however, said she wished more Duke students had been present, and cited the Sunday morning timing as a possible reason why some Durham residents may have chosen not to come out.
When the marchers reached Koskinen Stadium, the crowd erupted with cheers and applause for the lacrosse players practicing on the field. The cheers turned into chants of "Let's Go Duke!" before the crowd dispersed.
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