Civil Rights Act of 1968

In the turbulent days following the assassination of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., as cities mourned and protests occurred across the United States, Congress passed one of the most powerful civil rights laws in American history. On April 11, 1968, just one week after Dr. King’s death, President Lyndon B. Johnson signed the Civil Rights Act of 1968 into law. While its timing was steeped in national grief and unrest, the legislation stood as a promise that the work of justice and equality would not die with its champions.

Often referred to as the “Fair Housing Act,” the Civil Rights Act of 1968 did far more than address housing discrimination. It included four major components, each designed to confront discrimination and civil unrest in different arenas of American life.

The Act opened with hate crime protections, criminalizing the use of force or threats to interfere with federally protected rights like voting, attending school, or serving on a jury. This was a direct response to the violence faced by civil rights activists throughout the 1960s.

It also included the Indian Civil Rights Act, which extended many of the protections in the U.S. Bill of Rights to tribal governments, acknowledging both the sovereignty and the civil liberties of Native communities.

Most famously, the Fair Housing Act prohibited discrimination in the sale, rental, or financing of housing based on race, color, religion, or national origin. At a time when redlining and segregation were deeply embedded in real estate practices, this was a bold and necessary step toward desegregation and equal opportunity.

Lastly, the Act introduced the Anti-Riot Act, making it a federal offense to cross state lines with the intent to incite or participate in a riot. While controversial in its interpretation and enforcement over the years, it reflected the government's attempt to address the growing unrest tied to racial injustice and political protest.

The Civil Rights Act of 1968 is often overshadowed by the landmark legislation of 1964 and 1965, but it remains a vital part of the civil rights legacy. It reminds us that civil rights are not just about voting or access to public spaces – they are about where people live, how they are protected, and whether or not justice extends to all.

More than five decades later, the promises of this law are still being tested. Housing inequality, hate crimes, and threats to civil liberties continue to affect marginalized communities. And yet, the Act endures as both a tool and a symbol – proof that legislation can be a force for change, and that the work of building a more just society must be continuously advanced.

The full Civil Rights Act of 1968 is available as a PDF file on the U.S. Government Information website.