Schiff Honors 40th Anniversary of 1964 Civil Rights Act

Schiff Honors 40th Anniversary of 1964 Civil Rights Act

WASHINGTON, DC - (July 1, 2004) Congressman Adam Schiff (CA-29) issued the following statement in regard to tomorrow's 40th anniversary of the 1964 Civil Rights Act:

"Forty years ago, the federal government recognized that the American dream was unattainable for many Americans. Prejudice manifested in public policy kept African Americans from enjoying the full measures of citizenship. We honor the historic steps taken by Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., President Lyndon Johnson and other progressive leaders of that era to pass the 1964 Civil Rights Act to guarantee equal opportunities for all citizens. However, we must not forget that disparities in our society still exist. Many minority communities still suffer disproportionately from poor quality schools, inadequate access to health care and a lack of equal employment opportunities. We best honor the struggle of the civil rights movement by keeping vigilant in our efforts to build a society that reflects our values of fairness and liberty."

In March 2003, Congressman Schiff attended a three-day trip to Montgomery, Birmingham and Selma, Alabama with a bipartisan Congressional delegation to retrace the history of the civil rights movement as it unfolded in Alabama. Led by Congressmen John Lewis (GA-5) and Amo Houghton (NY-29), the group toured several civil rights memorials, and ended with a march across the historic Edmund Pettis Bridge on the anniversary of the 1965 Voting Rights March.

Congressman Schiff is the co-founder of the Democratic Study Group on National Security and a member of both the House Judiciary and International Relations committees. He represents California's 29th Congressional District, which includes the communities of Alhambra, Altadena, Burbank, East Pasadena, East San Gabriel, Glendale, Monterey Park, Pasadena, San Gabriel, South Pasadena and Temple City.