In July 1964 Congress passed the Civil Rights Act of 1964 after a 57-day filibuster led by southern senators. The act banned segregation in public places, such as restaurants and transportation facilities. It also made illegal discrimination by employers, unions, or universities on the basis of color, sex, religion, or national origin. It gave the U.S. attorney general the authority to bring suits to desegregate schools or other public facilities. The act stated that the U.S. government could also stop financial support to any program with discriminatory practices. The act created the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) to ensure compliance, or agreement, with these regulations.
