The Rumford Fair Housing Act, the 1960s legislation to end racial discrimination on housing, produced arguably the biggest, bitterest brawl ever in California’s Capitol.
In 1964, white Californians overwhelmingly voted to make segregation a part of the state’s Constitution with the passage of Prop 14.Birmingham, Ala., Police Chief Bull Connor turned dogs and fire hoses on civil rights marchers. Alabama Gov. George Wallace stood in the schoolhouse door vowing to block integration. Civil rights leader Medgar Evers was shot to death in Mississippi. Racists bombed a Birmingham church, killing four little girls.
California’s demographics were far different back then. More than 80% of the population was white. Around 9% was Latino, 5.6% Black and roughly 2% Asian. Today, the Black population is roughly the same, but whites are only 35%. Latinos are the largest ethnic group at 39%, with Asians and Pacific Islanders at 16%.The housing bill was carried by — and unofficially named after —Assemblyman Byron Rumford , the first Black legislator elected from Northern California.
Actors Marlon Brando and Paul Newman visited one day to root on the protesters and publicize their cause. The governor showed up once to thank the demonstrators, bringing along two grandchildren.
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