Civil Rights Act Passed - 1964 | Today in History | 19 June 16

On June 19, 1964, the Civil Rights Act of 1964 was approved by the U.S. Senate, 73-27, after surviving a lengthy filibuster.

Civil Rights Act Of 1964
Congress passes the most sweeping Civil Rights Bill ever to be written into law. Five hours after the House votes on the measure, President Johnson signs in into law before an audience of legislators and Civil Rights leaders at the White House. He calls it "a turning point in history" and uses a hundred pens to affix his signature. Following tradition the pens are distributed by the President to government leaders and other notables present including the Reverend Martin Luther King, Attorney General Robert Kennedy, Hubert Humphrey and Everett Dirksen.

[flowersdely]

Thank-you President Johnson for giving me the chance to have the American Dream! I'm a 24 year old African-American from CT. I'm currently studying political science for my undergrad, with the ultimate goal of attending law school to become a constitutional lawyer! It's easy for many in my generation (millennials) to forget how hard both black and white citizens had to fight to ensure rights/liberties that too many of us take for granted. I'm so proud to live in a country that always strives to do better, a country where each generation fulfills the most pressing issues of its time, all the while being guided by the oldest, continuously, serving constituion in the world! America does not have a homogenous population. We are a country of immigrants that hail from all corners of the globe; the world's melting pot! American society thrives because we are mulit-ethnic, but NOT multi-cultural! What makes us American is our shared culture of cherishing freedom! That will NEVER change! As long as we remember that the best is yet to come! Fuck all the cynics, I sense another American dominated century!

[democratresistance]

Why Democrats work so hard, we want everyone to have a chance at the american dream!