On January 3, 1964, lawmakers introduced the Civil Rights Act of 1964 to Congress. The landmark legislation would become one of the most important achievements of the Civil Rights Movement. The act aimed to end segregation in public places and ban employment discrimination on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, or national origin. The law was a direct response to racism and discriminatory practices that African Americans, as well as other minorities, faced.
While the bill would not be signed into law until July 2, 1964, this day marked a pivotal moment in the movement toward equal rights. Advocates like Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., Rosa Parks, and John Lewis helped introduce this act. The Civil Rights Act is widely considered a cornerstone of the ongoing fight for racial equality in America.
