WALKER, GENERAL

ex-Major General Edwin A. Walker; one of the leaders of a riot (1962) against United States federal troops who were ordered to escort a James Meredith (a black man) to the University of Mississippi campus due to a US Supreme Court order to allow him to attend school there. There were approximately 16,000 federal troops sent to the area by the president of the United States to quell outbreaks. Walker was arrested at the scene of the rioting, charged with inciting a rebellion and ordered to be placed under psychiatric examination. —SHSBC Binder 33 Approved Glossary

(1909-1993) Edwin A. Walker, American military leader, rightwing advocate and politician. In the 1950s when he was found to be indoctrinating his troops with the idea that communists had infiltrated the US government, he was asked to resign from the military, which he did. He then started a career in politics and in 1962 he ran for governor of Texas. Shortly thereafter Walker participated in riots against desegregation at the University of Mississippi. He was arrested for inciting rebellion and insurrection and ordered confined for psychiatric evaluation; the charges were later dropped.ex-Major General Edwin A. Walker; one of the leaders of a riot (1962) against United States federal troops who were ordered to escort a James Meredith (a black man) to the University of Mississippi campus due to a US Supreme Court order to allow him to attend school there. There were approximately 16,000 federal troops sent to the area by the president of the United States to quell outbreaks. Walker was arrested at the scene of the rioting, charged with inciting a rebellion and ordered to be placed under psychiatric examination.