This year marks the 50th
anniversary of the Civil Rights Act. President Lyndon Johnson overcame a
determined filibuster by southern lawmakers and signed the bill on July
2, 1964. The new law banned discrimination in public accommodations,
including restaurants and hotels, and ended the era of legal
segregation. The Civil Rights Act also outlawed discrimination in the
workplace and at the voting booth. The law is now regarded as one of
the greatest accomplishments of the civil rights movement. This week,
President Obama and three former presidents are gathering in Texas to
mark the 50th anniversary. We discuss the struggle to pass the Civil
Rights Act and how it changed America.
Interview:
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