March 27, 1962
Archbishop Joseph Francis Rummel called for all Roman Catholic schools in the city of New Orleans to end their segregation policies. Protesters gathered outside his residence carrying signs declaring that the Bible preaches segregation. When three Catholics organized protests and a boycott of Sunday collections against his orders to desegregate the parochial schools, he excommunicated them, including Leander Perez, the Democratic political boss of Plaquemines and St. Bernard parishes and Mrs. B.J. Galliot Jr., pictured kneeling in the LIFE Magazine photo, above.
