DURHAM -- Around 50 protesters gathered at the Hayti Heritage Center Tuesday night for a “Candlelight Vigil to #BlackoutDukeEnergy”.

Demonstrators say they gathered to oppose proposed rate hikes Duke Energy has requested to pay for coal ash clean up. Many feel they should not be on the hook to clean up a mess they did not create.

Among the protesters was Durham Mayor Pro Tem, Jillian Johnson, who believes rate hikes would hurt residents. 

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