Legal Defense Fund Breaks U. of Mississippi Barrier
Press Release
June 11, 1964

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Press Releases, Volume 1. Legal Defense Fund Breaks U. of Mississippi Barrier, 1964. b5e849ec-b492-ee11-be37-00224827e97b. LDF Archives, Thurgood Marshall Institute. https://ldfrecollection.org/archives/archives-search/archives-item/15bb64bb-bee5-4b7f-bf5d-6b994adc84ee/legal-defense-fund-breaks-u-of-mississippi-barrier. Accessed April 28, 2025.
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10 Columbus Circle New York, N.Y. 10019 | 8) ) JUdson 6-8397 NAACP Legal Defense and Educational LE und PRESS. RELEASE President Ls Dr. Allan Knight Chalmers Director-Counsel Jack Greenberg 4 Associate Counsel Constance itker Motley LEGAL DEFENSE sEUND- AK U. OF MISS$SSTPPI BARRIER aioe a . ; JACKSON, MISS.--A federal judge" this week issued a temporary restraining order requiring University of Mississippi officials to admit 18-year old Cleveland Donald, Jr., a Negro transfer i student, for the University's 1964 summer session, which begant today. Acting on a motion brought by NAACP Legal Defense Fu ; attorneys, Judge William Harold Cox of the Southern District # of Mississippi enjoined further efforts to block Donald's im- “mediate admission, thereby opening the door for the third Negro to enter that state's university. In 1962, James H, Meredith became the first Negro to enter a previously segregated Mississippi college after lengthy litigation. Meredith graduated in August, 1963. In June, 1963, Clave McDowell became the first Negro to enter the Uni- veristy of Mississippi Law School, but was expelled in Septem- ber after being apprehended with a gun»on campus. ‘ 4 Donald is thus the only Negro in attendance at Ole Miss, — £ as Legal Defense Fund attorneys are currently appealing MeDowell's expulsion to federal court, They contend aitet : McDowell had a right under state law to have a gun While ae ; veling on the state highways. L se # 3 Efforts to Continue 4 : Rat Legal Defense Fund™»attorney Derrick A, Bell’, who appeared / last week on Donald's behalf, indicated that he was extremely : pleased with Judge Cox's decision and stated, "We shall con- : tinue our efforts to convince federal judges at the District , Court level of the correctness of our position in civil rights cases." Mr. Bell was joined in the AEELY by. Director-Counsely Jack Greenberg and Associate af Constance | Baler: ‘Motley te FS in New York and by Carsie A. Hall, , Fund cooperating attorney in Jackson. te ey, ore Jesse DeVore, Jr., Director of Public Information—Night Number 212 Riverside 9-8487 Leg 1 Defense Fund Breaks =2- poss issippi Barrier Major in political science. He applied for transfers His application was provisionally approve | > ae » 1964. tions of Higher Learning intervened. The Board, a state body whose members are appointed by he Governor, ordered the University to defer action on Donald's application while they sought an opinion in federal to ourt as to whether the Meredith decision i dmit all Negroes who applied. Legal Defense Fu ee ers Ontended that the prior decision had been a "class action," equiring the admission of all qualified Negroes, suet rather he University's plans to enroll him peacefully at the school. They further argued that the Board's action was designed mere- to perpetuate racial segregation at the University. idling in favor of the Legal Defense Fund attorneys, je Cox gave little consideration to the Board's contention the admission of Donald would lead to riots and possible loodshed on campus and elsewhere in Mississippi. The es