The Civil Rights Act of 1964 was signed into law by President Lyndon B. Johnson on July 2, 1964. Today marks the 57th anniversary of the Act, which prohibited discrimination in public places, provided for the integration of schools and other public facilities and made employment discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex or national origin illegal. The document was the most sweeping civil rights legislation since Reconstruction[1].
This legislative triumph is a victory we proudly celebrate 57 years since its passage, but our work is not over. We know that many of the promises of this legislation have not come to full fruition. Schools are still segregated, and voting rights are in jeopardy. We must continue to work to bring about true equality.
I believe our legislative milestones, like the passage of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 -- and the Voting Rights Act the following year -- can help guide us towards a more equitable future.
Yesterday, I issued a statement condemning the Supreme Court decision upholding Arizona's voting rights restrictions. You can read my thoughts on that here.
We must continue to act to fulfill the promises of this legislation, and build on the foundation to further true equality. It is the founding principle of our nation.
1) https://www.adl.org/resources/backgrounders/civil-rights-act-of-1964
