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Start of Civil Rights Era
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Mendez v. Westminster
the Mendez v. Westminster case was significant due to being the landmark case which ended school segregation in California for Mexican-Americans, establishing that it was unconstitutional to segregate based on ancestry. This was handled through legislation and was a step towards desegregation. -
Brown v. Board of Education
This event ended legal segregation in public schools, which overturned the "separate but equal" principle which was set by the 1896 Plessy v. Ferguson case. This was important to ending racial discrimination in the classrooms and allowed for a stronger push in civil rights. Between civil disobedience or self-defense, this was mainly fighting segregation through the legal system. -
Montgomery Bus Boycott
The Montgomery Bus Boycott was a protest in Montgomery, Alabama where African Americans refused to ride city buses after Rosa Parks was arrested for not giving up her seat to a white passenger. This was an act of civil disobedience as African Americans peacefully refused to used this form of transportation and did so with no violence. This form of protest challenged segregation laws and was led by Martin Luther King Jr. - who became an important leader for civil rights. -
The Indian Relocation Act
The Indian Relocation Act was also known as the Public Law 050, and this was a U.S law which aimed to encourage the relocation of Native Americans from reserves to urban areas like cities. This resulted in lots of economic hardships and tried to assimilate Native Americans into the mainstream population. -
The Feminine Mystique
The Feminine Mystique was a book written by a women named Betty Friedan that gave voice to women and their dissatisfaction with the limited roles they had received. This book also sparked the second wave of the feminist movement and challenged the gender norms in America. This was non-violent and spoke about how limited women's potential was - making this civil disobedience. -
Equal Pay Act
The Equal Pay Act was a U.S labor law that prohibited wage discrimination between genders, which allowed for both men and women to recieve equal amount so of pay for jobs. This was a legislative decision and was signed by President John F. Kennedy on June 10, 1963. -
Civil Rights Act
The Civil Rights Act of 1964 was a landmark piece of legislation which prohibited discrimination based on race, sex, religion, and/or national origin. This was able to legally destroy the foundations of segregation, which made it a lot harder for racial discrimination to go unnoticed. -
Mexican American Legal Defence and Education Fund (MALDEF)
MALDEF was an organization founded by civil rights attorney Pete Tijerina. The mission behind this organization is to protect and defend the constitutional rights of Mexican Americans along with addressing the systematic racism against them. -
The Murder of Martin Luther King
The murder and assassination of Martin Luther King Jr. was a major turning point in the Civil Rights Movement as it was an example of violent backlash towards the movement. Martin Luther King was sadly shot and killed by James Earl Ray in Memphis, Tennessee while supporting an economic protest for black sanitation workers. The impact of his death led to nationwide riots and led to an increased urgency for civil right reforms - showing growing frustration for groups who fought for civil rights. -
Trail of Broken Treaties
The Trail of Broken Treaties was a cross-country protest and caravan movement organized by AIM which aimed to draw attention to the unfortunate situation of Native Americans. The movement also highlighted the U.S government's broken promises, which is why protesters ended up in the occupation of the Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) in Washington D.C. this was an act of civil disobedience as protesters entered federal building while demanding recognition to treaty rights. -
Wounded Knee Occupation
The Wounded Knee Occupation was a protest where members of AIM (American Indian Movement) and Oglala Lakota members Occupied Wounded Knee, South Dakota, for 71 days. This was an act of civil disobedience and it was a peaceful yet armed standoff which defied federal authority to bring attention to Native issues. The goal of this protest was demanding treaty enforcement and sovereignty. -
Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA)
While not just an event or movement, DACA is a program which provides protection from deportation to undocumented immigrants who arrived to the U.S as children. DACA kids are commonly referred to as "Dreamers" and this term originated from the DREAM act (Development, Relief, and Education for Alien Minors Act). While this act is not currently in effect, DACA still aims to protect immigrant children - becoming a civil rights issue for Hispanic/Latino communities. -
"Black Lives Matter" Movement
the Black Lives Matter (BLM) Movement is considered a modern civil rights movement. This is both a social and political movement which aims to highlight the racism and discrimination which Black Americans face. This movement was founded in 2013 after the acquittal of Trayvon Martin's murderer. -
The Women's March
The Women's March was one of the largest single-day protests in U.S history which was a response to the election of donald trump and the beliefs he stood for. The march also spoke for broader movements like freedom and equality, and it symbolized a resurgence in feminist activism. -
#MeToo Movement
The #MeToo movement was a social movement which raised awareness for the negative culture of sexual abuse and harassment. This movement gained traction after a female actress named Alyssa Milano encouraged women to speak about their experiences using the phrase "Me Too." This movement is still seen in present times and continues to spark national and global conversations about injustices and unequal balances of power around genders. -
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