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21 De Novo: Newsl. L. Libr. La. 1 (2024)

handle is hein.journals/denov21 and id is 1 raw text is: M1h.Nx~ttro Th fx iri o IAu~al Ii.i V I'N 11 1' ~h 911 LEGAL FIGURE OF NOTE: THE COMITE DES CITOYENS by Miriam Childs Louisiana Supreme Court ChiefJustice John L. Weimer, along with Associate Justices Jeff Hughes, Scott J. Crichton, James T Genovese, William J. Crain, Jay B. McCallum, and Piper D. Griffin, are pausing to celebrate and give honor to Black History Month. Ihe justices are dedicated to promoting universal awareness and understanding ofthejus- tice system. This is thefirst offour special Black History Month issues of De Novo, the newsletter of the Law Library of Louisiana, that willbe distributedstate- wide by the Louisiana Supreme Court. Each issue willfeature African Ameri- can legal figures of note. This issue tells the story of the Comiti des Citoyens, the activistgroup behind the legal challenge to the Separate Car Act of1890, eventu- ally coming before the United States Su- preme Court as Plessy v. Ferguson. The Comit6 des Citoy- ens, a committee consisting of African American civic, social, and business leaders in New Orleans, formed in 1890 with the goal of defeat- ing Louisiana's Separate Car Act and all the act repre- sented. New Orleans in the 1880s bore signs of a society undergoing political and so- cial changes in the wake of the Reconstruction era. Af- rican Americans could vote and hold office; streetcars were integrated; and whites and African Americans mixed socially. This march towards progression halted when the Louisiana Legis- lature passed the Separate Car Act in 1890. The act Photo ofArthur Esteves,from Law Library of Louisiana's copy of Nos Hommes et Notre Histoire. required railway companies separate accommodations. to provide separate coaches This act provoked outrage for African Americans and among African Americans, white passengers. Those who representing step backwards attempted to take a seat in a towards a caste system, rath- car not designated for their er than progressing towards race faced a fine of $25.00 racial equality. or 20 days in prison. Rail- way companies could also be fined for not providing The most vocal opponent of continued on page 2 Law Library of Louisiana Information Hours: Monday - Friday 8:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. Telephone: (504) 310-2400 TTY: (504) 310-2547 Toll Free (Louisiana only): (800) 820-3038 Fax: (504) 310-2419 Email: librarv@lasc.ore Website: lasc.libguides.com *** At Your Service Miriam Childs - Director Tara cunningham - Head of Collection Services Sara Pic - Head of Public Services Francis Norton - Research Lawyer/ Librarian Cynthia Jones - Librarian Angela Reaux - Librarian Sara Chauppette - Library Assistant Sebastian Fernandez - Library Assistant Melissa Roane - Library Assistant

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