June 25, 1962 - The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit ordered today issuance of an injunction to force the University of Mississippi to admit James H. Meredith (pictured), a 28-year-old Negro Air Force veteran. It will be the first Federal Court desegregation order aimed at Mississippi. In a 2-1 opinion, the court ruled that Mr. Meredith’s “application for transfer to the University of Mississippi was turned down solely because he was a Negro. We see no valid, non-discriminatory reason for the university’s not accepting Meredith.” The decision capped a 17-month legal battle by Mr. Meredith, who is now attending Jackson State College, a Negro school in Mississippi.
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