Former New Orleans Mayor Ray Nagin on Sunday suggested that his and Mayor LaToya Cantrell’s federal indictments are part of a concerted effort to diminish the legacy of the city’s political leaders of color.

In a rare public speech at Household of Faith Church in New Orleans East, Nagin, who served two terms beginning in 2002, also reflected on Hurricane Katrina on the eve of its 20th anniversary, ripped into what he said was biased media coverage by this newspaper and other outlets, and offered advice to state Sen. Royce Duplessis, a candidate to replace Cantrell who was present for the talk.

A jury in 2014 found Nagin guilty on 20 counts of conspiracy, wire fraud, money laundering, bribery and tax violations, making him the first mayor to be convicted on corruption charges. He was ha

See Full Page