WASHINGTON – U.S. Senators Bill Cassidy, M.D. (R-LA) and John Kennedy (R-LA) introduced legislation to designate the Post Office located at 3901 MacArthur Blvd. in New Orleans, Louisiana as the “Dr. Rudy Lombard Post Office.” This bill honors the legacy that Dr. Lombard left on New Orleans and the nation.
“Dr. Lombard will forever be remembered for his courage and advocacy for civil rights in Louisiana,” said Dr. Cassidy. “He fought to guarantee freedom for all Americans, and it is an honor to pay tribute to him through this designation.”
“Dr. Rudy Lombard’s fight for equality will live on forever in the hearts and minds of Louisianians. By passing this legislation in Congress, a great American activist will receive special recognition in New Orleans for the change his courage brought about,” said Senator Kennedy.
Dr. Lombard was born in Algiers in 1939 and attended Xavier University. He headed the “CORE Four” in a sit-in at McCrory’s Five & Dime on Canal Street. This protest led to the landmark 1963 Supreme Court case, Lombard V. Louisiana, which was a pivotal moment in the fight against segregation and set precedents to break down discriminatory practices.
Companion legislation was introduced by U.S. Representative Troy Carter (D-LA-02) with support from the entire Louisiana House Congressional delegation. It passed the U.S. House of Representatives on October 3, 2023.
Click here for bill text.
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