Recent Event Highlights: Riots Begin at Ole Miss and President Kennedy Sends in Troops, President Kennedy Sends in the Troops, "Ole Miss" denies Meritdith's admission, and 4 more...
James Meredith graduated from Ole Miss with a Bachelor of Arts degree in political science.After his time at the University of Mississippi, Meredith continued his education at the University of Ibadan in Nigeria and at Columbia University receiving several other degrees.
James Meredith attended his first class that year on October the first. He was escorted by marshals and troups so that he got to his classes safely and unharmed. He continued his stay and stayed physically unharmed but he suffered verbal and mental discrimination.
With the help of President Kennedy and other political persons, James Meredith was finally able to stay at Ole Miss. On that Sunday, he stayed secretly at Baxter Hall that night only to find out the next day about the riots that shook the grounds near hours before. Nearly a thousand students went on a rampage and was not only disrespecing Meredith, but also President Kennedy. They were threatening lives, throwing bottles and rocks, and when the marshals tried to stop them, they were attacked with half of the 320 men injured, eighty-two wounded by gun shots wounds and two people were killed.
Governor Barnett was known to not agree with the Civil Rights Movement, especially during James Meredith's court case, which ordered the Unviversity of Mississippi to let him attend. Barnett was very against these efforts to desegregate Ole Miss and when Meredith went to register at the college, Barnett refused to let him.
The riots became so bad at Ole Miss that President Kennedy had to take a course of action. He sent federal troops onto the campus and ordered them to stop the attacks immediatley. He also ordered Governor Barnett to allow him to register.
James Meredith believed that he was being judged on his color not his grades. His allegations were rejected by the district court and he appealed his case to the Fifth Judicial Circuit Court. They reversed the ruling with a 2 to 1 decision and stated Meredith was being rejected soley on his race and said Mississippi was segregating the educational program.
This was the second time Meridith was rejected from The University of Mississippi. Meridith believed he was being denied admissions because of his color.
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