The Decision

I can't believe it. We lost. I don't know how this could have happened. We had such great arguments so how did we loose 7 to 1? The majority opinion was written by Justice Henry Brown. He said that the purpose of the 14th amendment was to give equal rights to the two races, it was not made to enforce social rights. Justice Harlan wrote the dissenting opinion. He said "separate but equal" wouldn't fool him, or make up for the wrong doing this day. Justice Harlan is right, it's not fooling anyone. But don't worry this is not the end. We will fight for our freedom, no matter how long it takes.

Going to Court

We've hired a lawyer, well known advocate for black rights Albion Tourgee, to defend out case. We have some good arguments. We can say that the Separate Car Act in unconstitutional because it violates our 13th and 14th amendment rights. the 13th amendment says that no slavery or involuntary servitude shall exist within the United States. the definition of servitude is "a condition in which one lacks liberty to determine one's course of action of way of life." By forcing Plessy to change his seat the train conductor is in a way putting him under involuntary servitude. the 14th amendment gives all people born or accepted into the United States citizenship and equal rights thereof. It says that no state shall abridge these rights and that is what has happened to Plessy.

Train Trouble

It's over, it's all over. Plessy boarded the train and sat in the white only section. It was all going right, until people found out he was a person of color. Sure, he's only one-eighth colored, and could blend into any white crowd, but those white people see one drop of black blood and treat it like it's poisonous. So anyways, the conductor came over and asked him to move to the colored section. He refused, like planned, and thats where we ran into trouble. The railroad officials came over and arrested Plessy, charging him for violating the Separate Car Act. We'll just see about that. If those white folks think they can just make us back down, they're wrong. We're not going down without a fight.

The Plan

We have a plan and it's going to work. On June 7th, Homer Plessy is going to purchase a first class ticket to board a train going from New Orleans to Covington, Louisiana. He is going to sit in a white only section. When he is asked to move, he will refuse. He will stand his ground and fight for what's right. Of course we know that this will cause problems, but we're prepared. We have raised $3000 for this and we're not going to let it go to waste. We will get our voice heard, no matter how much it costs us.

Making a Difference

"Separate but equal," what does that mean? Is it possible to be separate and still be equal? No I don't think it is. Thats why I'm working as part of the Citizens' Committee to show people how unconstitutional the new "Separate Car Act" (of Louisiana) is. This act states "that all railway companies carrying passengers in their coaches in this state, shall provide equal but separate accommodations for the white, and colored races..." To prove to the nation that this act is not right we have chosen Homer Plessy, a 30-year-old shoemaker who is one-eighth black to board a train and fight against this Separate Car Act. We have raised $3000 to challenge this act and the East Louisiana Railroad Company.