New Orleans' large community of well-educated, often French-speaking free persons of color (gens de couleur libres), who had been free prior to the Civil War, fought against Jim Crow. They organized the Comité des Citoyens (Citizens Committee) to work for civil rights. As part of their legal campaign, they recruited one of their own, Homer Plessy, to test whether Louisiana's newly enacted Separate Car Act was constitutional. Plessy boarded a commuter train departing New Orleans for Covington, Louisiana, sat in the car reserved for whites only, and was arrested. The case resulting from this incident, Plessy v. Ferguson, was heard by the U.S. Supreme Court in 1896. The court ruled that "separate but equal" accommodations were constitutional, effectively upholding Jim Crow measures.
new orleans' large community of well-educated often french-speaking free persons of color (gens de couleur libres) who had been free prior to the civil war fought against jim crow they organized the comité des citoyens (citizens committee) to work for civil rights as part of their legal campaign they recruited one of their own homer plessy to test whether louisiana's newly enacted separate car act was constitutional plessy boarded a commuter train departing new orleans for covington louisiana sat in the car reserved for whites only and was arrested the case resulting from this incident plessy v ferguson was heard by the us supreme court in 1896 the court ruled that "separate but equal" accommodations were constitutional effectively upholding jim crow measures