President Lyndon Johnson signs the Civil Rights Act, outlawing discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex, or national origin and ending segregation in public accommodations.
At a Glance
- Date
- 2 July 1964
- Location
- Washington, D.C.
- Key people
- Lyndon B. Johnson, Martin Luther King Jr.
- Category
- Law & Justice
- Source
- Civil Rights Act of 1964, Pub. L. 88-352 · National Archives
What It Meant Then
It was the most sweeping civil rights legislation since Reconstruction.
What It Means Now
The Act remains the foundation of U.S. anti-discrimination law.
Also on 2 July
Cite this page
- MLA
- “The Civil Rights Act of 1964 Is Signed.” Black-History.com, 30 Sept. 2026, https://black-history.com/on-this-day/the-civil-rights-act-of-1964-is-signed/.
- APA
- Black-History.com Editors. (2026, September 30). The Civil Rights Act of 1964 Is Signed. Black-History.com. https://black-history.com/on-this-day/the-civil-rights-act-of-1964-is-signed/
- Chicago
- Black-History.com Editors. “The Civil Rights Act of 1964 Is Signed.” Black-History.com. September 30, 2026. https://black-history.com/on-this-day/the-civil-rights-act-of-1964-is-signed/.
Editorial Note
By the Black-History.com editors. Last reviewed 30 September 2026. To suggest a primary source or a correction, write to editors@black-history.com or use our corrections form.