James Meredith and the University of Mississippi

James Meredith and the University of Mississippi — page 3
Barnett’s Mixed Messages Governor Barnett told President John F Kennedy that he would obey federal orders But he sent a different message to the people of Mississippi He told them he supported segregation And when the riot at Ole Miss was starting he made a radio address He told the public that federal officers had brought Meredith onto school grounds He asked the crowd to avoid violence But he also said that the US government was oppressive 6 The officers were coming to protect an African-American man named James Meredith The young man wanted to register for classes at the previously all-white college He had applied and had been accepted to Ole Miss after a long court battle The US government had ordered the school to allow Meredith to attend But Mississippi Governor Ross Barnett was disobeying those orders He vowed to keep Meredith from signing up for classes Many whites throughout Mississippi were also against Meredith’s enrollment The officers arrived at the school a little after 4 00 p m They