The civil rights movement has a long and notable history in New Orleans. One of the principal champions of civil rights was Alexander Pierre Tureaud - the preeminent civil rights attorney in New Orleans during the 20th century. A sculpture of him (pictured at left) symbolizes his work in "opening the gates of separated citizens from each other and the equal protection of the law."

Read more about A.P. Tureaud and the history of civil rights in this article prepared by local writer Keith Weldon Medley. Medly is the author of the book We As Freemen: Plessy v. Ferguson.