FEDERAL TROOPS RESTORE ORDER IN MISSISSIPPI
Oxford, Mississippi (JFK+50) On October 1, 1962, 23,000 US troops sent to the campus of the University of Mississippi by President John F. Kennedy restored order after riots had broken out the previous day resulting in two deaths.
The riots came in response to the attempted enrollment at the all white university by African American, James Meredith*. On September 13, a federal district court ruled that "Ole Miss" was required to admit Meredith, but Governor Ross Barnett** ordered state police to ignore the order.
After the governor was declared in contempt of court, Meredith was successfully admitted to the university with the assistance of US marshals.
Reacting to events which led to disagreements with the Kennedy administration, Governor Barnett said this about the Attorney General...
"Bobby Kennedy is a hypocritical left wing beatnik without a beard who...recklessly distorts the facts."
*James Howard Meredith was born in Mississippi & attended the University of Mississippi, Jackson State University & Columbia Law School. JHM served in the USAF & became a writer & political adviser.
**Ross Robert Barnett (1898-1987) was born in Mississippi & served in the US Army during WWI. RRB earned his law degree at the University of Mississippi & served as governor of Mississippi 1960-1964.
James Meredith
photo by Darrell Blakely (2007)
