History, people, fables and critical essays on the 24/7 life of the French Quarter. “The great music of the city is…when you say good morning and good evening.” (Mr. Jerome Smith)
#tdih On June 7, 1892 Homer Plessy was arrested for violating Louisiana’s Separate Car Act. We all know the court’s Plessy v. Ferguson ruling, but less familiar is the incredible organizing by the Comité des Citoyens that led to this test case. The Comité dedicated years to fundraising, strategic planning, public education (with The Crusader newspaper), and more.They even raised the funds to hire the guard to arrest Plessy to be sure he was charged correctly in their effort to challenge an unjust law. Regardless of the court decision, the Comité played an important role in U.S. history. Learn about the organizing history in this online article by Keith W. Medley:http://bit.ly/LDMPMx
You can help ensure that students learn this history in middle and high school with a donation to the Zinn Education Project in honor of the Comité des Citoyens: https://zinnedproject.org/donate/