On This Day In Black History: United States Senate Passed the Voting Rights Act of 1965

Lyndon Johnson and Martin Luther King, Jr. - Voting Rights ActPhoto byThe LBJ Presidential Library

A historic event that forever changed social rights and voting consistency in America took place in the US Senate on August 4, 1965. The Voting Rights Act of 1965 was a crucial piece of legislation voted by the Senate that addressed the long-standing problem of African Americans' lack of voting rights.

The Voting Rights Act was inspired by a voter registration effort launched in Selma, Alabama, by social equality advocates. Despite Selma having 15,000 black inhabitants of voting age, only 335 of them were registered to vote. On March 7, 1965, a remarkable walk was undertaken from Selma to Montgomery, the state capitol, as a result of this distinctive singularity in citizen enrollment. The walk, dubbed "Bloody Sunday," was met with fierce resistance from the police, who used toxic gas, nightsticks, and whips to scatter the peaceful protesters.

Voting Rights ProtestsPhoto byLeffler, Warren K., photographer

The shocking and tragic events of Bloody Sunday attracted public attention and inspired people from all over the country to travel to Alabama in support of the advancement of social equality. On March 25, almost 25,000 people completed the march to Montgomery under the direction of the eminent Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., under the watchful eye of American soldiers, the National Guard, and the FBI. Since then, a U.S. National Historic Trail designation has been given to this noteworthy course.

After Bloody Sunday, President Lyndon Johnson sent a voting rights bill to Congress that would have allowed African Americans to vote and join without having to deal with long-standing coercive tactics intended to disenfranchise them. On the Senate floor, the bill ran into opposition and was delayed, but on May 25, 1965, the Senate passed cloture, obtaining the necessary 66% of votes to move on. The Rights Act was approved the following day by the Senate with an astounding majority of 77 to 19.

After that, the bill was sent to the House of Representatives, where it ran into opposition from southern liberals who proposed a replacement bill. Ultimately, the more sensible version of the measure as described by the House Judiciary Committee was successful. The final version of the Voting Rights Act was adopted by the House and Senate after a gathering council took into account their differing versions.

MLK MemorialPhoto byHighsmith, Carol M

In a ceremony held in the President's Room beside the Senate Chamber on August 6, 1965, President Lyndon Johnson signed the Voting Rights Act into law. The demonstration stated as its goals addressing the "clear and simple wrong" of voting separation and providing political justice to the long-suffering group. The efforts of a bipartisan group of members played a crucial role in securing the section of the bill and strengthening it.

The Voting Rights Act of 1965 represented a monumental win for equality. It is still an important piece of legislation that continues to shape US social equality and the path toward democracy. It stands as proof of the power of protesting and the perseverance of the people who fought for equality and fairness on that historic day in August 1965.