(Oxford, MS) Two men are wanted for draping a noose and an old Georgia state flag over a statue of James Meredith that is located on the Ole Miss campus.
The two were spotted near the statue early Sunday, and were also heard shouting racial slurs.
Chancellor Dan Jones said, “These individuals chose our university’s most visible symbol of unity and educational accessibility to express their disagreement with our values. Their ideas have no place here, and our response will be an even greater commitment to promoting the values that are engraved on the statue – Courage, Knowledge, Opportunity, and Perseverance.”
The Ole Miss Alumni Association is offering $25,000 for information leading to the arrest of the men, one of whom may have been wearing camouflage pants.
Assistant to the Chancellor for Multicultural Affairs, Don Cole, said, “This is particularly painful because the James Meredith statue has become a gathering place for students to discuss many things, including the tenets of our creed, which calls for dignity and respect for all people.
From the university’s landmark tour:
In the fall of 1962, amidst violence and turmoil, James Meredith became the first African-American to enroll at the University.
Exactly 44 years after Meredith attended his first class, the Civil Rights Monument was dedicated on October 1, 2006. In tribute to those who sought to open the doors of higher education to all citizens in the South, the words “Courage,” “Opportunity,” “Knowledge,” and “Perseverance” are inscribed at the top of the limestone portal, which sits just west of the Lyceum.
If you have any helpful information, call University Police at 662-915-7234.
