October 01, 1962
- Submitted by: Turner01
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- Category: History: American
- Date Submitted: 03/26/2015 08:59 PM
- Pages: 4
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October 01, 1962
Today was a day of astonishing importance. At ole’ Miss, James Meredith, the black Air Force man who has been trying to enroll into the university was finally accepted. Just a few days ago when all of this started, I thought to myself it was never going to happen. Due to the University of Mississippi’s all white attendance history of course. However, after President Kennedy’s speech on the television set, stating that any person involved in the obstruction of this enrollment, can and will face federal prosecution, I though it just might work. But, that didn't even work. People still faut against it and continued to rally and protest at the school. So President Kennedy was then forced to send US soldiers to help protect Mr. Meredith’s enrollment. In addition, the authorities also finally said they would arrest Mississippi Governor Barnett if he continued to obstruct the enrollment as he had been doing. What is terrible though, is that even after all these actions to prevent it, riots still broke out, and many people were hurt. It was disgusting to see so many regular folks siding with the opposing party, yelling and screaming against the enrollment. The streets became full of people and the campus ended up looking like a war zone. Bricks, bottles, and rocks were all being thrown. Cars were lit on fire, and hordes of violent people were running around trying to harm others. It become so bad that the US Army and over 60 US Marshals set up tents on campus grounds as if they were at war. Which I guess in a way, they truly are.
Also, it was very heart wrenching to see how both sides of folks were so upset over the enrollment. On one side there were black folks crying because of the monumental achievement they have made, by finally being accepted, as well as those that were crying for the ones who had been hurt. Then on the other side, there were white protesters actually crying because of Mr. Meredith enrollment. It appeared they were...
Today was a day of astonishing importance. At ole’ Miss, James Meredith, the black Air Force man who has been trying to enroll into the university was finally accepted. Just a few days ago when all of this started, I thought to myself it was never going to happen. Due to the University of Mississippi’s all white attendance history of course. However, after President Kennedy’s speech on the television set, stating that any person involved in the obstruction of this enrollment, can and will face federal prosecution, I though it just might work. But, that didn't even work. People still faut against it and continued to rally and protest at the school. So President Kennedy was then forced to send US soldiers to help protect Mr. Meredith’s enrollment. In addition, the authorities also finally said they would arrest Mississippi Governor Barnett if he continued to obstruct the enrollment as he had been doing. What is terrible though, is that even after all these actions to prevent it, riots still broke out, and many people were hurt. It was disgusting to see so many regular folks siding with the opposing party, yelling and screaming against the enrollment. The streets became full of people and the campus ended up looking like a war zone. Bricks, bottles, and rocks were all being thrown. Cars were lit on fire, and hordes of violent people were running around trying to harm others. It become so bad that the US Army and over 60 US Marshals set up tents on campus grounds as if they were at war. Which I guess in a way, they truly are.
Also, it was very heart wrenching to see how both sides of folks were so upset over the enrollment. On one side there were black folks crying because of the monumental achievement they have made, by finally being accepted, as well as those that were crying for the ones who had been hurt. Then on the other side, there were white protesters actually crying because of Mr. Meredith enrollment. It appeared they were...