Lafayette Council on Human Relations

Historical Note

The Lafayette Council on Human Relations (LaCHR) was founded around 1965 as a nonprofit, nonsectarian, interracial, educational organization. It was an independent chapter of the Louisiana Council on Human Relations, which was formed the previous year. Like ithe state-wide counicl, the Lafayette chapter's mission was to counter discrimination and prejudice against racial and religious groups and to promote better understanding among these groups. The organizers of BRCHR included J. Carlton James, James R. Oliver, and Father Alexander O. Sigur. Presidents of the chapter throughout the years included: J. Carlton James, Rev. Ray Branton, James Oliver, Patricia Rickels, Milton Rickels, Kathleen Mahaffey, Mervin Harmon, Jude Alsandor, Rev. Andrew Harnack, Rev. William Frierson, Rev. Archie Smith, Rev. Luther Minor, and Joseph Dennis. As of 2000, the council had not been active for a number of years.

Throughout its existence, BRCHR has sponsored discussion groups, conferences, and workshops that have addressed a wide variety of social justice causes including: housing and urban renewal , women’s rights, Native American rights, discrimination, race relations, religion, environmental justice, welfare, and others.

A history and timeline of the organization can be found on the website for the Baton Rouge Council on Human Relations at http://www.brchr.org.

Citation:

Abstract:

Burns, Paul Y. "Chronicle of the Louisiana Council on Human Relations, 1964-1999." http://www.brchr.org/paul%20burns'%20history%20of%20brchr%20and%20lchr/LCHR-history%20from%20LACHR.COM.htm (Accessed 3 February 2011).

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