Our country was fundamentally changed sixty years ago this month when Congress passed the Civil Rights Act, finally prohibiting discrimination and granting fundamental rights to Black people. As Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke noted in her remarks, the passage of this fundamental shift in federal law granting basic rights to all Americans was not a foregone conclusion, and many believed it may not be possible at the time. After 75 days of filibuster and negotiation in Congress, the Civil Rights Act was signed into law by President Lyndon Johnson on July 2, 1964. 

NIOT leader Patrice O’Neill was invited to a ceremony commemorating the Civil Rights Act on July 9 and the following day to celebrate the 1964 founding of the Department of Justice Community Relations Service.  At the event, Director Justin Lock awarded NIOT a Community Friend of CRS Award.  

The Community Relations Service, known as America’s Peacemakers, was created as part of the Civil Rights Act to address conflict related to race, color, and national origin. Its mandate is now more broadly defined to include tensions and conflict around gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, religion, and disability.

America’s Peacemakers, a history of the Community Relations Service, was written by Grande Lum, Former Director of the Community Relations Service and NIOT Board Member. Grande spoke eloquently at the CRS event about the issues and conflicts and the remarkable accomplishments of CRS over the past 60 years, highlighting the challenges they have overcome. 

Grande Lum, Former Director of the Community Relations Service and NIOT Board Member Speaking

Justice Department Hosts Program Celebrating the 60th Anniversary of the Civil Rights Act of 1964
 

Learn more about the civil rights movement in Birmingham leading to the passage of the Civil Rights Act here.