1. On June 2, 1966, civil rights leader James Meredith began his “March Against Fear” in Memphis, Tennessee. The march was meant to be a call for voting rights and an end to racism, and it led to violent clashes with police and white supremacists along the way, including in Mississippi.

2. The Mississippi Gulf Coast is home to several unique barrier islands, including Horn Island. On June 2, 1699, explorer Pierre Le Moyne d'Iberville landed on the island and claimed it for France, marking the first European presence in the area.

3. On June 2, 1865, Confederate General Edmund Kirby Smith surrendered his forces to Union General Edward Canby, effectively ending the Civil War in the trans-Mississippi region. This surrender took place in Galveston, Texas, but had significant implications for Mississippi and other southern states.

4. One of the most renowned authors of the 20th century, Eudora Welty, was born in Jackson, Mississippi on June 2, 1909. Welty’s works, including the Pulitzer Prize-winning novel “The Optimist’s Daughter,” explored the complexities of Southern culture and identity.

5. The city of Greenville, Mississippi, was founded on June 2, 1824. Situated along the Mississippi River, Greenville became a center for cotton and agricultural trade and eventually became known as the “Heart and Soul of the Delta.” The city has a rich history and has produced notable figures like writer Walker Percy and blues musician B.B. King.