Calhoun v. Latimer Transcript of Record Volume I
Public Court Documents
January 1, 1962

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Press Releases, Loose Pages. Statement of James J. Meredith, 1963. 06c4fb54-bd92-ee11-be37-6045bddb811f. LDF Archives, Thurgood Marshall Institute. https://ldfrecollection.org/archives/archives-search/archives-item/f79911ca-a92a-4b1c-bc9b-e60b51dbaf65/statement-of-james-j-meredith. Accessed August 19, 2025.
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PRESS RELEASE@® * NAACP LEGAL DEFENSE AND EDUCATIONAL FUND TOCOLUMBUS CIRCLE + NEW YORK19,N.Y. © JUdson 6-8397 DR. ALLAN KNIGHT CHALMERS JACK GREENBERG President CONSTANCE BAKER MOTLEY Director-Counsel Associate Counsel Ss STATEMENT OF JAMES H, MEREDITH January 30, 1963 I notified everyone concerned that I would announce my decision at this time for two reasons. First, newsmen from every area of the news services had requested that they be given sufficient notifica- tion so that they could be present if they so desired. Secondly, I have found in the past that by not givino such notification, I have had to spend too much time answering the same questions for each individual newsman. Therefore, it was suggested by many of them that this procedure would be more advantageous both to them and to me. It ig a great tragedy for America that whether a student will attend a University has become a big news item. For the past several days, I have pondered this question. I have, in various ways, been informed of the feelings and opinions of most of the people in this country, and many throughout the world regarding this question. After listening to all arguments, evaluations and positions, and weighing all this against my personal possibilities and circumstances, I have concluded that the "Negro" should not return to the University of Mississippi. The prospects for him are too unpromising. However, I have decided that I, J. H, Meredith, will register for the second semester at the University of Mississippi. Many things have taken place in recent months, and I see signs that give me hope that I will be able to go to school in the future, under adequate, if not ideal, conditions. I want to thank the people of the United States of America for their support. With so many of our citizens genuinely concerned with this grave racial probkm we are bound to find an adequate solution. I also want to thank the many people throughout the world who have shown such a great interest in the struggle of men for the equality of opportunities. HHHHH