James Meredith, an African-American student and military veteran, fought a long legal battle for his right to attend the University of Mississippi, a state university that had maintained policies of racial segregation. In 1961, he applied for admission but was repeatedly denied entry based on his race. His case drew national attention, as it was emblematic of the larger civil rights struggle occurring across the United States. After filing a federal lawsuit, the U.S. District Court ruled in his favor, ordering the university to admit him.

The appeals court decision on September 13, 1962, was significant in that it reinforced the judiciary’s role in dismantling institutional racism in the South. This ruling mandated that the university could no longer refuse admission based solely on race, highlighting the power of the federal courts in the civil rights movement. However, the ruling was met with fierce opposition from white segregationists, including the governor of Mississippi, who vowed to resist the admission of Meredith.

Following the court order, protests erupted, and tensions escalated at the university. On the day of Meredith's planned enrollment, violence ensued on campus, leading to federal intervention, including the deployment of U.S. Marshals to ensure Meredith's safety and to facilitate his entrance into the university. Ultimately, Meredith successfully enrolled, becoming the first African-American student to attend the institution, a pivotal moment in the fight for educational equality.