Civil rights icon James Meredith, 90, falls at Mississippi event but has no visible injuries

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Celebrated civil rights figure James Meredith had a minor fall during an event outside the Mississippi Capitol commemorating his 90th birthday on Sunday. Thankfully, he displayed no apparent injuries and was later reported to be comfortably resting at home.

While addressing a crowd of around 200 people, Meredith lent on a mobile lectern that was not secured properly, causing it to topple over and him to fall onto it. Attendees immediately rushed to his aid, helping him back into his wheelchair and offering ice packs and cold water as temperatures peaked around 95 degrees Fahrenheit (35 degrees Celsius).

Despite the fall, Meredith stayed at the event until its conclusion around 45 minutes later. Post-event, he was assessed by paramedics and then departed in a sports utility vehicle, accompanied by friends and family.

Meredith’s wife, Judy Alsobrooks Meredith, informed The Big Big News via text that he was at home with family members. “He’s relishing his birthday cake at the moment,” she said. “He’s the most resilient person I’ve ever known.”

Before becoming a symbol of the Civil Rights Movement, Meredith was an Air Force veteran. He made history in 1962 as the first Black student to enroll at the University of Mississippi, backed by a federal court order. His enrollment sparked riots on the Oxford campus, led by white mobs, while federal marshals ensured his safety.

In 1966, he embarked on a walk from Memphis, Tennessee, to Jackson, Mississippi, to both advocate for Black voting rights and demonstrate that a Black man could safely travel across Mississippi. On the second day of his journey, he was shot and injured on the highway by a white man wielding a shotgun.

In his absence, prominent civil rights leaders, including Rev. Martin Luther King Jr., continued Meredith’s march. He recuperated sufficiently to join them on the last leg of the journey. The event culminated with a rally of roughly 15,000 people outside the Mississippi Capitol on June 26, 1966.

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More about James Meredith

• James Meredith – Biography
• James Meredith – Civil Rights Activist
• James Meredith – University of Mississippi Integration
• Civil Rights Movement – History
• Mississippi Civil Rights History
• Memphis to Jackson March – Civil Rights Memorial
• Martin Luther King Jr. – Biography
• University of Mississippi – Integration History