60 years ago: Civil Rights Act signed into law
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President Johnson talks with Martin Luther King Jr. after signing the Civil Rights Act of 1964. Photo: Getty Images
The Civil Rights Act was signed into law on this day in 1964 by then-President Lyndon B. Johnson.
Why it matters: The legislation prohibited discrimination based on race, color, sex, national origin or religion.
- It also banned discrimination in public accommodations, schools, voting and in employment.
What they're saying: President Biden in a proclamation Tuesday called the law "one of the most significant pieces of civil rights legislation in history."
- "That day, our Nation moved closer to our North Star, the founding ideal of America: We are all created equal and deserve to be treated equally throughout our lives," Biden said.
- "We have never fully lived up to that idea, but we have never walked away from it either," Biden added. "On this anniversary, we promise we will not walk away from it now."
Worthy of your time: 17 Atlantans talk about how the legislation influenced their lives in essays published in Atlanta magazine.
Go deeper: Trump allies plot anti-racism protections — for white people
Editor's note: This story has been updated with a proclamation from President Biden.