Congresswoman Eddie Bernice Johnson recognized the 50th anniversary of the landmark Civil Rights Act of 1964. President Lyndon Johnson signed this historic law, the most sweeping civil rights legislation since Reconstruction, on July 2, 1964.
“It could be argued that the Civil Rights Act of 1964 is the most significant law in this nation’s history – by finally banning discrimination on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, or national origin,” Congresswoman Johnson said. “This 50th anniversary is a time to remember the debt all of us owe to the courageous leaders of the Civil Rights Movement of the 1960s – many of whom were beaten and some of whom died in their fight for justice. Their struggles and efforts culminated in the enactment of the Civil Rights Act.”
“It could be argued that the Civil Rights Act of 1964 is the most significant law in this nation’s history – by finally banning discrimination on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, or national origin,” Congresswoman Johnson said. “This 50th anniversary is a time to remember the debt all of us owe to the courageous leaders of the Civil Rights Movement of the 1960s – many of whom were beaten and some of whom died in their fight for justice. Their struggles and efforts culminated in the enactment of the Civil Rights Act.”
The landmark Civil Rights Act of 1964 helped bring an end to the Jim Crow era – banning discrimination in public places. Before the enactment of the Civil Rights Act, many public facilities in regions of the country were still segregated. The Act also banned discrimination in employment. In addition, it provided a long-awaited enforcement mechanism for the integration of schools.
“Although the Civil Rights Act of 1964 represented enormous progress, more progress is still needed,” Congresswoman Johnson stated. “For example, there could be no better way to mark this 50th anniversary than for Congress to pass a revised, renewed, and strengthened Voting Rights Act.”
The Voting Rights Act has been responsible for much of the progress made in recent decades to outlaw discriminatory voting practices. And yet, unfortunately, in June 2013, in a 5-4 decision in Shelby County v Holder, the Supreme Court significantly weakened the Act by invalidating one of its key sections. In response, Rep. Jim Sensenbrenner (R-WI) has introduced a bipartisan compromise bill – the Voting Rights Amendment Act – which provides an effective, modern, flexible and forward-looking Voting Rights Act for today.
“I call upon Members on both sides of the aisle to continue the bipartisan tradition of supporting civil rights and pass the Voting Rights Amendment Act,” Congresswoman Johnson concluded. “This action would be in the spirit of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and would continue to help America to better live up to our creed that all individuals are created equal.”
“Although the Civil Rights Act of 1964 represented enormous progress, more progress is still needed,” Congresswoman Johnson stated. “For example, there could be no better way to mark this 50th anniversary than for Congress to pass a revised, renewed, and strengthened Voting Rights Act.”
The Voting Rights Act has been responsible for much of the progress made in recent decades to outlaw discriminatory voting practices. And yet, unfortunately, in June 2013, in a 5-4 decision in Shelby County v Holder, the Supreme Court significantly weakened the Act by invalidating one of its key sections. In response, Rep. Jim Sensenbrenner (R-WI) has introduced a bipartisan compromise bill – the Voting Rights Amendment Act – which provides an effective, modern, flexible and forward-looking Voting Rights Act for today.
“I call upon Members on both sides of the aisle to continue the bipartisan tradition of supporting civil rights and pass the Voting Rights Amendment Act,” Congresswoman Johnson concluded. “This action would be in the spirit of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and would continue to help America to better live up to our creed that all individuals are created equal.”
