Ole Miss Riot of 1962

In 1962, black air force veteran James Meredith enrolled at the University of Mississippi, which had previously been an all-white school.  120 federal marshals were on the scene to protect Meredith from the anticipated violence from white supremacists, and as expected, violence ensued.  After nightfall, fighting broke out leaving two civilians dead and many others injured.[1]  Meredith had become a target for white supremacists when he fought the Mississippi court system to exercise his 14th Amendment rights to equal education, and though the lower courts sided with the racist school system, the United States Court of Appeals for the 5th Circuit ordered the school to admit Meredith in the fall of 1962.[2]

After the event, white supremacist leaders denounced Meredith, the Appeals Court, and Civil Rights leaders for the integration of Ole Miss.  William Branham was no exception.  Branham said that Meredith and the "colored people" were trying to "sell their birthrights" dishonoring the "blood of Abraham Lincoln".  Branham sided with the white supremacists in attacking Meredith and added insult to injury by using the old phrase, "give the devil his dues".

 Just like this segregation problem down in the South, same thing. I believe men should be free. I believe this nation stands for freedom. I don't blame Mr. Kennedy for sending down the troops. Although, I'm not a—a 'new dealer,' and I'm not a Democrat. I'm not a Republican. I'm a Christian. So I'm…But I don't believe in that. I don't believe the colored people ought to sell their birthrights to such stuff, either. It was the—it was the Republican party. The blood of Abraham Lincoln freed them people because he was a godly man. I think they ought to at least stick to their party if they're going to vote at all.

But I tell you one thing, that boy wasn't down in there just because that, their schools. That boy is a citizen. He's American. This is freedom for all. The color of a man shouldn't change his difference. We all…'God,' said, 'of one man, made all blood, all nations.' We're all one. But, that boy, he was a soldier. He's a veteran. He fought for what's right. He had a right to go to school. That's right. But he had plenty of schools he could go to. It's what the thing is. If you get behind it, it's this present-day denominational stuff up there, that's inspiring that. Why? They're swinging those colored votes from Republican to Democrat, and they're selling their birthrights by it. Exactly the truth. The Holy Spirit is not here…

'Let him that has wisdom.' 'Let him that has knowledge.' Exactly. Just like this church, this present age, selling itself. Can't you see what's going to happen? I don't care if this is taped. Here it comes. Uh-huh. Yeah. What's the matter? My old mother used to say, 'Give the devil his dues.'"[3]