In 1966, the United States initiated legal action against the Plaquemines Parish School Board in Louisiana with the objective of desegregating its schools. By 1975, schools were deemed to have achieved proper integration. Despite this, the case remained unresolved in the court system for many years, leaving federal oversight an ongoing aspect of the local school district's operations.
This situation concluded today as Assistant Attorney General Harmeet K. Dhillon addressed what she described as a "historical wrong," thereby relieving the Plaquemines Parish School Board from the longstanding oversight. Dhillon noted the impact this oversight had on the local community, saying, “No longer will the Plaquemines Parish School Board have to devote precious local resources over an integration issue that ended two generations ago.” She further criticized the situation as “a prime example of neglect by past administrations,” asserting that the focus should now be on America's future.
Leo Terrell, Senior Counsel to the Civil Rights Division, commented on the progress made by Louisiana, stating, “Louisiana got its act together decades ago, and it is past time to acknowledge how far we have come.” He emphasized this action aligns with the Department of Justice's commitment to "correcting wrongs from the past and working for all Americans."