Plaquemines Parish School Board, Desegregation Order Breach, Louisiana 1966

A half-century-long saga came to an end today in Louisiana as the U.S. government dismissed a desegregation order against the Plaquemines Parish School Board.

Back in 1966, the United States sued Plaquemines Parish School Board in a bid to desegregate its schools. By 1975, the Court found the schools had been properly integrated, but the case was never removed from the Court system. Thus, for nearly a half century the case remained open.

Assistant Attorney General Harmeet K. Dhillon righted a historical wrong, freeing the local school district of federal oversight. For decades, the Parish was forced to yield to the demands of past Administrations, unnecessarily subjecting schools and students to probing federal oversight.

"No longer will the Plaquemines Parish School Board have to devote precious local resources over an integration issue that ended two generations ago," said Assistant Attorney General Harmeet K. Dhillon of the Civil Rights Division. "This is a prime example of neglect by past administrations, and we’re now getting America refocused on our bright future."

"Louisiana got its act together decades ago, and it is past time to acknowledge how far we have come," said Leo Terrell, Senior Counsel to the Civil Rights Division. "America is back, and this is making sure the Civil Rights Division is correcting wrongs from the past and working for all Americans."

The dismissal of the consent decree marks a major milestone in the long history of desegregation in the United States. Although the schools were integrated in 1975, the case remained open, subjecting the local school district to unnecessary federal oversight.

The Plaquemines Parish School Board is a public school district serving the Plaquemines Parish in Louisiana.

Defendant: Plaquemines Parish School Board

Criminal Charges: Desegregation Order Breach

City and State: Belle Chasse, Louisiana

Exact Date: 1966

Sentence or Outcome: Consent decree dismissed

Dollar Amounts: Not applicable

Source: https://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/justice-department-dismisses-half-century-old-louisiana-consent-decree