This black student’s arrival at Ole Miss triggered the largest military deployment since the Civil War

The Ole Miss Riot of 1962

James Meredith, a Black Air Force veteran, applied to the all-white University of Mississippi in 1962. The U.S. Supreme Court ruled on September 10 that Meredith must be admitted.

Mississippi Governor Ross Barnett stood against integration by making himself the university registrar to block Meredith personally. This clash between state and federal power led to one of the worst fights of the civil rights movement.

Governor Barnett’s Inflammatory Speech

Governor Barnett fired up the crowd at an Ole Miss football game on September 29, 1962. He declared his love for Mississippi’s “customs” and “heritage” while students waved Confederate flags throughout the stadium.

This speech worked like a battle cry. It pushed white Mississippians to fight against federal efforts to integrate their university. Barnett knew his words would stir strong feelings against Meredith’s arrival on campus the next day.

Federal Marshals Arrive on Campus

President Kennedy sent 127 federal marshals to Oxford on September 30. That evening, Meredith arrived with Mississippi Highway Patrol and 500 federal marshals as protection.

The marshals took positions at the Lyceum, the main building where Meredith would register. They carried only tear gas and batons, not guns. Kennedy hoped to avoid bloodshed while still enforcing the court order to admit Meredith.

How the Riot Began

A crowd formed near the Lyceum building around 7:30 PM on September 30. It grew quickly to about 3,000 people. Students, locals, and outsiders who came just to fight against integration packed the area.

Former Army General Edwin Walker, who lost his job for sharing racist materials with troops, helped lead the mob. The Mississippi Highway Patrol left at 7:25 PM on a state senator’s orders, removing the buffer between protesters and federal marshals.

Escalation to Violence

The crowd attacked federal marshals by 9:00 PM. Rioters broke into science buildings and stole chemicals to make fire bombs. They threw bricks, bottles, and started shooting at the marshals.

Federal agents fought back with tear gas, but their supplies ran low as the night went on. The mob controlled much of the campus, trapping marshals and officials in the Lyceum building while violence spread.

Federal Response to the Violence

President Kennedy federalized the Mississippi National Guard on September 30. His order allowed federal forces to step in and restore order. Only 67 guardsmen first reached Oxford, led by Captain Murry Falkner.

They arrived without bullets – a direct order to prevent civilian deaths. This made the guardsmen themselves targets rather than an armed force that could stop the violence.

Military Reinforcements Arrive

General Charles Billingslea led more troops to the campus. Rioters set his car on fire while he was still inside with two other officers. The three men crawled 200 yards through gunfire to reach the Lyceum building.

Army and National Guard troops kept coming all night. By morning, about 25,000 soldiers had arrived to take back control of the campus. This massive military response finally stopped the riot.

Deadly Outcome of the Riot

Two people died during the 15-hour riot. Paul Guihard, a French journalist, was shot in the back near the Lyceum. Ray Gunter, a 23-year-old jukebox repairman who came to see what was happening, was shot in the head.

FBI tests showed the bullets didn’t match any guns from federal officers. This suggested the killings came from the mob itself. Both men appeared to have been shot at close range, execution-style.

Casualties and Injuries

The riot wounded 166 federal marshals – one-third of all those sent to protect Meredith. Seventy-nine marshals suffered gunshot wounds, chemical burns, and injuries from bricks and bottles.

Forty soldiers and National Guardsmen were also hurt in the fighting. In total, more than 300 people were injured, making this one of the bloodiest clashes of the civil rights era and the largest military operation on U.S. soil since the Civil War.

Meredith’s Historic Enrollment

James Meredith enrolled at the University of Mississippi on October 1, 1962, after troops secured the campus. Federal marshals walked with him to register for classes at the Lyceum.

He then attended his first class – a seminar on American colonial history. Despite Governor Barnett’s fight against it, federal law won. Meredith became the first Black student at Ole Miss, breaking the color barrier at Mississippi’s flagship university.

Continued Harassment and Protection

Meredith faced daily harassment during his time at Ole Miss. Students bounced basketballs above his dorm room all night to keep him from sleeping. In the cafeteria, students turned their backs or left tables when he sat down.

A student group called “Rebel Resistance” urged others to ignore Meredith completely. Federal guards stayed with him for over a year, protecting him as he walked to classes and meals. Despite this isolation, Meredith graduated in August 1963.

Visiting The Lyceum Building, University of Mississippi

The Lyceum Building is located on University Avenue in Oxford, Mississippi. Built in 1848, it is the oldest building on campus and served as the center of the 1962 riot. You can see bullet marks on the right and center columns about 14 feet high.

Behind the Lyceum, find the James Meredith statue and Civil Rights Monument in the area between the Lyceum and the library. The bronze statue shows Meredith walking through a limestone portal with the words “Courage, Opportunity, Knowledge, and Perseverance.”

For more information, stop at the Student Union information desk for a campus map and the brochure “Remembering the Events of 1962.” The University Museum also features exhibits about the integration of Ole Miss.

Read More from WhenInYourState.com:

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