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public schools unconstitutional under the Fourteenth Amendment’s equal protection principle. In the 1950s,
Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., a Baptist minister and a central leader in the civil rights movement, inspired others
to join the movement through marches, boycotts, and demonstrations that expressed non-violent resistance
to and peaceful protest of discriminatory laws and practices. Some African-American students participated in
“sit-ins” at lunch counters reserved for white people, while other African Americans, along with many white
citizens, teamed up as “Freedom Riders” to ride buses together throughout the South to protest segregation.
On August 23, 1963, more than 200,000 people marched in Washington to demand equal rights regardless
of skin color. On that day, Martin Luther King, Jr., a superb orator, declared in his famous “I Have a Dream”
speech, “I say to you today, my friends, that in spite of the diculties and frustrations of the moment, I still
have a dream. It is a dream deeply rooted in the American dream. I have a dream that one day this nation will
rise up and live out the true meaning of its creed: ‘We hold these truths to be self-evident; that all men are
created equal.’ I have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be
judged by the color of their skin but by the content of their character....”
Finally, in 1964, Congress listened to the demands of the people and passed the Civil Rights Act, which
prohibited discrimination in public facilities, employment, education, and voter registration based on race,
color, gender, religion, and national origin. en in 1965, the Voting Rights Act was enacted, further ensuring
that minorities gained equal access to the polls.
What does it mean today?
e struggle to eliminate prejudice and gain equal rights for all continues to this day. Every year, the federal
government receives more than 75,000 complaints regarding workplace discrimination, and the number of hate
crimes (bias-motivated crimes) reported is an estimated 7,500—or one nearly every hour of the day.
Hate crimes not only harm individuals, they also intimidate members of the victim’s community and other
communities historically hurt by hate. If you or someone you know is a victim of a hate crime because of race,
religion, ethnicity, national origin, gender, gender identity, or sexual orientation, it is important to report the
crime to the local police department as soon after the incident as possible. Also document as many details of the
crime as possible, especially the physical description of the perpetrator.
When ling a complaint, don’t forget to note the police ocer’s name and badge number as well as the case
number. Ask about nancial compensation for the damages incurred during the incident. Finally, request a copy
of the police report and make certain the incident is noted as a hate crime.
Local FBI oces can assist in investigating hate crimes.
For more information about hate crimes and how to report
them, go to http://www.fbi.gov/about-us/investigate/
civilrights/hate_crimes/hate_crimes, or call the Hate Crime
National Hotline at 206-350-HATE (4283).
e U.S. Attorney’s Oce handles cases related to
hate crimes, housing discrimination, employment
discrimination, or other forms of discrimination based on
a person’s national origin, race, color, religion, disability,
sex, and familial status. Find more information about the
Department of Justice’s civil rights eorts at
http://www.justice.gov/crt.