August 28, 1957
Senator Strom Thurmond (D-SC) began a 24 hour and 18 minute filibuster against a civil rights bill. Thurmond read, verbatim, the voting laws of each one of the 48 states. He read the U.S. criminal code. He read a Supreme Court decision, followed by more laws. Thurmond read the Declaration of Independence. Nevertheless, the Senate passed the bill, which established the U.S. Civil Rights Commission that “stud[ies] alleged deprivations of voting rights and alleged discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex, age, disability, or national origin, or in the administration of justice.” The act also instituted new bans on interfering with the rights of persons to vote for the President and members of Congress. It was the first civil right legislation passed in 80 years.
