Press Releases
Congresswoman Wilson's Statement on the Anniversary of the Civil Rights Act of 1964
Washington, DC,
July 2, 2012
Today, Congresswoman Frederica Wilson (D-Fla.) issued the following statement on the anniversary of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. Today marks the 48th anniversary of the passage of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. Passed on July 2, 1964, the Civil Rights Act
Today, Congresswoman Frederica Wilson (D-Fla.) issued the following statement on the anniversary of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. Today marks the 48th anniversary of the passage of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. Passed on July 2, 1964, the Civil Rights Act of 1964 was a pivotal piece of legislation in the civil rights movement. It changed the accessibility of education, jobs and services for African Americans and women. This landmark legislation ended racial segregation in schools, the workplace, and in public facilities, and effectively ended centuries of Jim Crow and a dark chapter in American history. “As a little girl I can recall the countless nights my father spent registering people in his neighborhood to vote. As a young college student during the Civil Rights Movement I recall the day this bill was signed into law and the sense of hope that swept the black community.” “I appreciate what this legislation has meant not just for African-Americans but all Americans. The doors of opportunity swung open, and this legislation made it possible for me to walk the halls of Skyway Elementary as a school principal, the state capitol of Florida as a State Senator, and the halls of Congress as a United States Representative.” “More importantly this legislation was passed with bi-partisan cooperation. It is in that spirit of bi-partisanship that we should celebrate today. History has shown that when we work together we can achieve even the most difficult of tasks,” said Congresswoman Wilson. |