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Fifty One Years Ago President Johnson Signs Civil Rights Act

By Joe Hren

Posted July 31, 2015

The headline reads, "Historic Civil Rights Measure Becomes Law". Fifty-one years ago, President Johnson signed the Civil Rights Act of 1964. This landmark piece of legislation attempted to advance the stance of African-Americans and other minorities throughout the country.

Since the abolishment of slavery almost 100 years prior, African-Americans had been treated like second-class citizens. The movement for equality gained more traction in the 50s and 60s, spearheaded by fervent leaders such as Malcolm X and Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Rallies, boycotts and marches were organized to bring attention to the plight of African-Americans.

Former Indiana Senator Birch Bayh was in his first term when the act was pushed through.

"The number one issue with the passage of all those civil rights laws. And the Southerners were successfully filibustering those to death," he said.

The law provided a legal foundation for African-Americans and other minorities to combat discrimination based on race. But Indiana University Associate Law Professor Tim Lovelace says we still have a long ways to go.

"We're not where we were, but we can get a lot better as a country," Lovelace says. "As I look around and I see protests in places like Ferguson, Baltimore and Charleston, I know that the work of Civil Rights activists is still important and will continue to challenge the nation and should continue to challenge the nation."

President Johnson gave out 72 ceremonial pens used to sign the law. He gave one of those to Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

Three hours after the bill had passed, its signing was rushed for the July 4th weekend.

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