Withdrawal Of Meredith

Press, Volume CVI, Issue 31318, 14 March 1967, Page 17

Withdrawal Of Meredith

(N.Z.P.A.-Reuter—Copyright) NEW YORK, March 13. Mr James Meredith, the Negro who announced that he would contest the Congressional seat which became vacant after the ousting of Mr Adam Clayton Powell, said today that he had withdrawn from the contest.

Mr Meredith, a law student, aged 33, who was the first man to integrate the University of Mississippi, gave no reason for reversing his earlier decision. The announcement that Mr Meredith would run against Mr Powell as the official candidate of the Republican Party for the New York seat was a bomb-shell last week. Mr Meredith came under sharp attack by many Negro leaders who said that he had allowed himself to be “used”. Mr Meredith anticipated this reaction when he first made the announcement and declared that he had taken into account "the fear and scorn from my fellow Negroes.” Mr Powell was unseated from the House of Representatives for misusing public funds and defying New York courts over a libel action. He has announced that he will seek re-election and his

Harlem constituents are expected to return him again with his customary overwhelming majority.