James Meredith, Civil Rights Icon, Celebrates 90th Birthday and Urges Continued Progress

Civil rights icon James Meredith celebrated his 90th birthday in Mississippi, where he urged people to obey the Ten Commandments and the Golden Rule to reduce crime. Meredith, who integrated the University of Mississippi in 1962, has long resisted the label of civil rights icon because he believes it sets issues such as voting rights and equal access to education apart from other human rights. Meredith had planned to walk 200 miles in Mississippi to spread his anti-crime message, but instead made a series of appearances in recent weeks, often using a rolling walker, a wheelchair or a golf cart.