A bronze statue of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. stands near the entrance to the Louisiana Civil Rights Museum. Behind it, the museum’s modern lobby features a large “WELCOME” desk and signage displaying the museum’s name and logo in bold black and red lettering. The space has clean white walls, polished floors, and contemporary architectural details.

Louisiana Civil Rights Museum Marks Anniversary Commemoration

Sat, Oct 25, 2025
10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.
New Orleans
Louisiana Civil Rights Museum

The Louisiana Civil Rights Museum and the Friends of the Louisiana Civil Rights Museum (FOLCRM) invite the public to celebrate the two-year anniversary of the museum’s inaugural exhibition space with a special commemorative program themed “The Power of Preservation.”

The anniversary event will feature an Entergy-sponsored Fireside Chat and the launch of the new Louisiana Civil Rights Museum Lecture Series, headlined by legendary civil-rights leader Dave Dennis, a Freedom Summer organizer and lifelong advocate for equality and education.

Program Highlights

  • Welcome Remarks: Sidney Barthelemy, Chair, LCRM Advisory Board, and Louisiana State Museum Director Rebecca Mackie
  • Entergy Fireside Chat: Sidney Barthelemy, Dodie Smith, and Sandra Diggs Miller (Moderator)
  • Year-in-Review Update: Karl J. Connor, Executive Committee and Development Chair, Friends of the LCRM
  • Keynote Lecture: Dave Dennis, Civil-Rights Veteran and Freedom Summer Organizer
  • Dialogue & Q&A: Dave Dennis in conversation with Ernest Jones

New Orleans Marriott Warehouse Arts District | Gravier Ballroom
859 Convention Center Boulevard, New Orleans, LA
Free and open to the public | Seating is first-come, first-served

“This commemoration is both a look back at what we’ve accomplished and a call-to-action for what lies ahead,” said Sidney Barthelemy, LCRM Advisory Board Chair. “Louisiana’s civil-rights legacy is central to America’s story, and our goal is to ensure it is preserved and accessible for generations to come.”

Lieutenant Governor Billy Nungesser added, “Louisiana has always played a pivotal role in the great movement for civil rights in this country—and it is our responsibility to honor that heritage, to make sure future generations understand the courage and sacrifice of those who came before us, and to build on that foundation to advance justice for all.”

The Friends of the Louisiana Civil Rights Museum extend their gratitude to Entergy Corporation, the Louisiana Museum Foundation, The Irby Trust, and other partners whose continued support powers the museum’s mission.

Future installments of the LCRM Lecture Series will be held quarterly in cities across Louisiana to deepen public engagement with the state’s civil-rights history and the stories that continue to shape our nation.