Killing of Joseph Leo Hardy in Louisiana in 1944

Incident

Case summary

Joseph Leo Hardy died in 1944 after sustaining a beating at the hands of the sheriff and his deputies in New Iberia, Louisiana. Hardy was an NAACP organizer. Parish officials objected to the chapter’s efforts to start a welding school for African Americans with federal funds. They forced the school to close its doors. The sheriff detained Hardy and a teacher from the school; the two were severely beaten by his deputies and told to leave town. Hardy and others packed their families up and left town. Hardy’s family associated his death, shortly after the incident, with the beating he received at the hands of the sheriff.

Victim(s):

Joseph Leo Hardy


Alleged perpetrators/other named individuals:

[given name unknown] Broussard

Luto LeBlanc

Gilbert Ozenne

Ferd Powceaux

Gus Walker

Perpetrator group type: police

Date of incident: 1944-05-17
Location: New Iberia, Iberia Parish, Louisiana
Location type: public space - urban
Allegation against victim: attempting to open a welding school for African Americans

Coroner process
Coroner/inquest: [ ]
Finding of no legal responsibility: [ ]

Criminal process
Arrest: [ ]
Charge/indictment/information: [ ]
Grand jury: yes
Trial: [ ]
Conviction: [ ]
Sentence: [ ]

FBI case ID:

San Antonio 44-21

New Orleans 44-101

Memphis 44-48

Los Angeles 44-16

Dallas 44-66

DOJ case ID:

144-32-18


Document(s):
advocacy group resources
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