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Mendez v. Westminster
Court ruled that the segregation of Mexican-American students in California public schools was unconstitutional, setting a precedent for future desegregation efforts. This influenced Brown v. Board which desegregated schools nationwide. This is an example of civil disobedience. -
American GI Forum Founded
Dr. Hector P. Garcia created the American GI Forum because of the discrimination in South Texas towards Mexican Americans with employment, education, and Veteran hospitals. The Forum's work extended beyond veteran's issues, it worked for broader civil rights, including voting rights and desegregation. This is an example of civil disobedience. -
Brown v. Board of Education
Brown v. Board of Education, the US Supreme Court unanimously ruled that state-sponsored segregation in public schools was unconstitutional. The decision overturned Plessy v. Ferguson, stating that separate educational facilities for white and African American students were inherently unequal. This decision marked a crucial step in the Civil Rights Movement and led to the desegregation of schools across the country. This is an example of Civil disobedience. -
Montgomery bus boycott
African Americans in Montgomery, Alabama, boycotted city buses to protest segregation on public transportation, following Rosa Parks's arrest for refusing to give up her seat to a white passenger. The boycott lasted for close to 400 days, ending with the Supreme Court ruling in favor of desegregating buses. This is an example of civil disobedience. -
Publication of "The Feminine Mystique"
Gave voice to millions of American women's and helped spark widespread public activism for gender equality. The book is credited with igniting the modern feminist movement and inspiring many to become politically and socially active. This is an example of civil disobedience. -
1963 Birmingham Campaign
Led by Martin Luther King Jr., the Southern Christian Leadership Conference (SCLC) and local activists fought segregation in Birmingham, Alabama, going on boycotts, sit-ins, and marches. The campaign faced violent opposition and angered many Americans. The public reaction pressured the Kennedy administration to intervene, quickening the timeline for the passage of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. This would be considered an act of Civil disobedience. -
Title VII of the Civil Rights Act
This act prohibits employment discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex, or national origin. It impacted employers by requiring them to avoid discrimination in various employment practices. This is an example of civil disobedience. -
Watts Riots
Watts neighborhood of Los Angeles, violence broke out between residents and police after the arrest of a Black man, Marquette Frye, on suspicion of drunk driving. This lasted six days, resulting in 34 deaths, over 1,000 injuries, and $40 million in property damage. The riots showed Americans the deep economic and social inequalities facing African Americans in urban centers that civil rights legislation had not fully addressed. This is an example of civil disobedience. -
Delano Grape Strike and United Farm Workers
Filipino and Mexican-American farmworkers, led by Larry Itliong and Cesar Chavez, united in a five-year struggle for fair wages, benefits, and working conditions. This strike and nationwide boycott of California grapes, led to the creation of the United Farm Workers Union (UFW) and a victory for farmworkers, securing better pay and benefits, and contributing to the California Labor Relations Act a few years later. This is an example of civil disobedience. -
Assassination of Martin Luther King, Jr.
The assassination of Martin Luther King Jr. on April 4, 1968, was a pivotal moment in American history. It led to widespread rioting and upset Americans it also solidified King's legacy as a central figure in the fight for equality and inspired continued activism for social justice. This is an example of self-defense. -
Trail of Broken Treaties and Occupation of the Bureau of Indian Affairs
A cross-country protest march to Washington, D.C. many activists occupied the Bureau of Indian Affairs headquarters, demanding reforms to federal treaty policy and greater respect for Native sovereignty. This is an example of civil disobedience. -
Roe v. Wade
Women's right to abortion, ruling that a state could not interfere with a pregnant person's decision during the first trimester. This was significant to women at the time because they had very little power within the law to make those decisions before. This is an example of civil disobedience. -
Indian Self-Determination and Education Assistance Act
Grants Indian tribes greater control over programs and services previously administered by the federal government. They had to make a contract with the federal government to manage and deliver these services themselves, promoting self-governance and tribal autonomy. This is an example of civil disobedience. -
The Longest Walk and Passage of the American Indian Religious Freedom Act
Native American protest march from Alcatraz Island to Washington, D.C., played a significant role in the passage of the American Indian Religious Freedom Act (AIRFA). This is an example of civil disobedience. -
Election of Barack Obama
Barack Obama’s election in 2008 was a historic milestone as he became the first African American president of the United States, a breakthrough in the nation’s long struggle for racial equality. This is an example of civil disobedience.