Background Legal background and incident In 1890, the Louisiana State Legislature passed a law called the Separate Car Act, which required separate accommodations for blacks and whites on Louisiana railroads. The law required passenger train officers to "assign each passenger to the coach or compartment used for the race to which such passenger belongs". It also made it a misdemeanor for any passenger to "insist on going into a coach or compartment to which by race he does not belong," punishable by either a $25 fine or up to 20 days in prison.
Background L!egal background and incident In 1890, the Loui:siana State Legislature passed a law called the Separate Car Act, which required separa?te accommodations for blacks and whites on Louisiana railroads. The law required passenger train officers to "assign each passenger to. the coach or compartment used for the race to which such passenger belongs". It also made it a misdemeanor for any passenger to ".insist on going into a coach or compartment to which by race he does not belong," punishable by either a $25 fine or up to 20 days in prison.