From Mississippi-
The slightly-built Episcopal priest in clerical collar pleaded with Army Gen. Edwin Walker at the Confederate monument in Ole Miss’ Grove to urge students — and non-students — to stop the raging riot after federal marshals escorted James Meredith to the campus Sept.30 1962.
Not only did Walker (who weeks before had urged people to protest Meredith’s admission) refuse, but he demanded that the clergyman identify himself. “I’m Duncan Gray, a local Episcopal minister,” said priest. The tall Texan snapped: “You are the kind of Episcopal minister that makes me ashamed of being an Episcopalian.”
This was around 9 p.m. Later in the evening as rioting worsened and Walker egged on the crowd, Gray once again pleaded with the general to help bring peace. Hostile rioters roughed up the minister until a deputy sheriff and several students rescued him.
Gray’s confrontation with General Walker during what would become an insurrection over admitting one African-American student to the prestigious all-white university would become his first hands-on involvement in the struggle of Mississippi’s black citizens for civil rights. Over the next 40 years this son of an Episcopal bishop, who would himself become a bishop, would in his quiet way become a spokesman for racial equality.
More here-
http://www.desototimes.com/articles/2011/04/01/opinion/editorials/doc4d9628c88b9f6949582252.txt
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