End Jim Crow Juries Once and FOR ALL

In 2020, the U.S. Supreme Court declared Louisiana's split-jury law both unconstitutional and historically racist. Still, Louisiana has provided no relief for the 1500+ men and women who remain unconstitutionally, illegally imprisoned with split-jury verdicts (also known as 10-2 verdicts). We are building a coalition to demand justice for these 1500+ people, to finally end Jim Crow once and FOR ALL.

“Jim Crow” laws were passed in the late 19th century to enforce racial segregation. One of these laws allowed split juries — as few as 10 out of 12 — to convict, even in life-sentence cases. No more than 1 or 2 black people were usually on a jury, so the law was created to discount black jurors’ votes. The lawmakers stated: “Our mission was, in the first place, to establish the supremacy of the white race in this State to the extent to which it could be legally and constitutionally done.”

Tragically, this Jim Crow law stayed in place in Louisiana and Oregon until 2020, when the U.S. Supreme Court finally outlawed split-jury verdicts, concluding that the Sixth Amendment requires a unanimous jury to convict.

Despite amending the Louisiana state constitution as a result, and conceding the need for a remedy, Louisiana still upholds this explicitly racist law for the 1500+ people who remain imprisoned with split-jury verdicts. We need your support to build a movement for the Louisiana Legislature to right this historical wrong in their next legislative session on March 11, 2024.

WE WILL BUILD MOMENTUM LEADING UP TO THE 2024 LEGISLATIVE SESSION BY ACHIEVING THE FOLLOWING GOALS:

A) COORDINATE THE EFFORTS OF SUPPORTERS TO CORRECT THE INJUSTICE OF NON-UNANIMOUS JURY CONVICTIONS.

B) EDUCATE OFFENDERS AND SUPPORTERS ON ACTIONS NEEDED TO FACILITATE A JUST REMEDY.

C) CREATE AN OUTREACH CAMPAIGN TO GENERATE AWARENESS OF LOUISIANA'S DISCRIMINATORY PRACTICE AND ITS FAILURE TO APPLY ITS AMENDED CONSTITUTION TO EVERY LOUISIANIAN.

D) COLLECT DATA ON THE MENTAL HEALTH AND TRAUMA OF OFFENDERS AFFECTED BY THE INJUSTICE AS A RESULT OF A NON-UNANIMOUS JURY CONVICTION.

In the 2024 Louisiana Legislative session, the State of Louisiana MUST create a viable remedy for everyone who is now incarcerated with an illegal, unconstitutional verdict, propelled more than a century ago by white supremacy.

To right this historical wrong, we must rally the world to speak truth to the State of Louisiana — to demand justice and equality for all.

“Our greatest resources are our families, friends and supporters. The majority of our family and friends are from poverty-stricken environments and have experienced all sorts of injustices, discrimination and abuse of authority. We need allies around the world to demand Louisiana legislators end Jim Crow once and for all.”