Which action occurred during James Meredith's integration at Ole Miss?

• A. Kennedy sent 320 federal marshals to escort Meredith to the campus
• B. The Supreme Court ruled he must be admitted
• C. Meredith graduated three years later
• D. Riots occurred with deaths and injuries

Answer: (A)

The key idea here is federal enforcement of desegregation. When James Meredith tried to enroll at Ole Miss, the federal government stepped in to back a court order and protect his right to attend. President Kennedy sent federal marshals to escort him onto the campus and into his classes, a dramatic use of federal power to override state resistance and ensure he could enroll safely. That direct action—using federal forces to enforce the court order—is why this option is the best answer.

Riots did occur and there were fatalities, which is part of the episode’s violence, but the defining action tied to Meredith’s integration was the marshals’ escort. The other options don’t reflect the actual immediate federal intervention in this moment (the court rulings and Meredith’s graduation timeline are related but not the specific action described).