BATON ROUGE — Louisiana Democratic Party Chair Karen Carter Peterson issued the following statement today on the 50th anniversary of the Civil Rights Act:
“After decades of activists struggling and fighting against injustice, Congress finally passed the Civil Rights Act, and President Lyndon Johnson signed the bill into law 50 years ago today. This was a triumph of a grassroots movement that brought together young and old, black and white and people of all faiths standing up and demanding that America fulfill its founding principles for all Americans.
“This is a fight that continues today, for women, for our LGBT brothers and sisters, for people with disabilities and many more who are excluded from participating fully in our democracy, our society and our economy. We cannot truly be free until all of us are free.
“On this day and over the next few months as we celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Freedom Summer, it is not just a right and a privilege, but it is our duty to take up the mantle of those who fought and struggled and even died to make America a more perfect union. The best way to celebrate today’s anniversary is by reaching out to your friends and neighbors to make sure they are registered and ready to vote this November. Democracy is not a spectator sport, and our nation is stronger when more Americans participate in the process.”
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