This is the Guardian.

Today, something different from today's focus.

Our US Southern Bureau Chief Oliver Lockland has spent the past six months

following what happened when a progressive black district attorney called Jason Williams

was elected in Louisiana, the heart of the deep south.

Jason had promised sweeping reforms across the city of New Orleans, but he had no idea

just how hard that would be. Over the next four days, we're going to be following that journey.

And just a heads up, this series contains strong language and depicts scenes of violence.

One day this spring under blue skies on a searing hot New Orleans day,

a go for a walk with Keith Plessy. We're here in New Orleans one day before Madagra,

it's called Lundegra. The Monday before fat Tuesday.

We're walking through by water. It's the neighborhood where I live and something that could only

happen in New Orleans happens. All of a sudden as we walk, this huge parade comes out of nowhere

and kind of envelops us. Everyone is strolling along, drinking beer,

wearing beautiful, incredibly elaborate costumes. But the parade isn't why I'm out here with Keith.

We're actually looking for something else just around the corner that he wants to show me.

This is basically where he was arrested. Yes, on this corner where the marker is, he was arrested.

The spot where his ancestor, Homer Plessy, was arrested nearly 130 years ago.

The first step in the chain of events that would change America for decades.

It was 1890. The Civil War had ended and states across the south were trying to strip black people

of their rights. In Louisiana, there was a new law that segregated train carriages.

Well, the Separcalo was written to separate passengers by race. There was the act to promote

...