Canton in Madison County, Mississippi — The American South (East South Central)

March Against Fear

Photographed by Mark Hilton, September 27, 2026

1. March Against Fear Marker

Inscription.
In 1966, civil rights activist James Meredith began the March Against Fear from Memphis to Jackson. On June 6, Meredith was wounded in an assassination attempt. Martin Luther King Jr., Stokely Carmichael, and other activists continued the march. On June 23, the marchers arrived in Canton and tried to erect tents here on the grounds of McNeal Elementary School, where they were tear-gassed by the Mississippi Highway Patrol. Despite several injuries, the marchers returned the next night and then continued the march toward Jackson.

Erected 2025 by the Mississippi Department of Archives and History.

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: African Americans • Civil Rights. In addition, it is included in the Mississippi State Historical Marker Program series list. A significant historical date for this entry is June 6, 1966.

Location. 32° 37.112′ N, 90° 2.584′ W. Marker is in Canton, Mississippi,

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in Madison County. It is at the intersection of George Washington Sr Avenue and Johnson Street, on the right when traveling east on George Washington Sr Avenue. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Canton MS 39046, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in Natchez Trace Corridor

and in Greater Jackson.

It is also in the American South

and specifically in the Deep South.

Globally, it is in North America,

a Gulf of Mexico state,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once the territory of the Mississippian Culture,

one of the Confederate States of America,

and the Antebellum South.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Mount Zion Baptist Church (approx. ¼ mile away); Hickory Street (approx. 0.4 miles away); Old U.S. Post Office (approx. half a mile away);

Front of McNeal Elementary School around the block from the marker. image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Mark Hilton, September 27, 2026

2. Front of McNeal Elementary School around the block from the marker.

Madison County Courthouse (approx. 0.6 miles away); Flonzie Brown Wright (approx. 0.6 miles away); Madison County Movement (approx. 0.6 miles away); Grace Church (approx. 0.7 miles away); Priestley House (approx. ¾ mile away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Canton.

Also see . . . Canton unveils marker honoring March Against Fear (The Canton News). (Submitted on September 27, 2026, by Mark Hilton of Montgomery, Alabama.)

March Against Fear Marker view north on Johnson Street. image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Mark Hilton, September 27, 2026

3. March Against Fear Marker view north on Johnson Street.

Credits. This page was last revised on September 27, 2026. It was originally submitted on September 27, 2026, by Mark Hilton of Montgomery, Alabama. This page has been viewed 4 times since then. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on September 27, 2026, by Mark Hilton of Montgomery, Alabama.