The Civil Rights Heritage Center of Indiana University South Bend will have a number of events in the upcoming weeks.

Beginning on Friday, April 4, there will be a candlelight vigil outside the Franklin D. Schurz Library beginning at 7 p.m. The vigil will mark the 40th anniversary of the assassination of the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. The participants also will remember the lives of 40 civil rights workers who were killed for their work.

The New Harvest Christian Ministries will perform.

There will be a panel discussion and breakfast beginning at 9:30 a.m. Saturday, April 5 at Greater Friendship Missionary Baptist Church, 206. S. Falcon St., South Bend. "The Church in the Movement III" will be the theme for the discussion.

At 6 p.m. Saturday, April 5, at Greater Friendship, there will be a gospel celebration with local musicians, singers and choirs.

An art auction will be April 12 and will benefit the Civil Rights Heritage Center's 2008 Freedom Summer class and the Engman Natatorium Project. The auction will be in Room 158 (Recital Hall), Northside Hall.

The auction will begin with viewing the art on the auction blocks from 6 to 7 p.m.; silent auction from 7 to 8 p.m. and the oral auction from 8 to 9 p.m. Ivy Tech Chancellor Virginia Calvin will be the guest auctioneer.

Art pieces have been donated by students and renowned artists from the South Bend area, including Tony Droege, Harold Zisla, Jake Webster, Glenda Bixby, Charles Bibbs, Roy McLein, Susan Moore and Dora Natella.

Visit www.southbendartauction.org to view pieces to be sold at the auction.

April 23 will be the last day of class and the event will be celebrated with a Port-A-Pit Blast from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. near Wiekamp Hall and 20th Street.

A half chicken will be sold for $5. Tickets will be sold by Freedom Summer students and members of the Civil Rights Heritage Center. For information or tickets call the center at (574) 520-5580.

Chicken will be available the day of the sale.