The major event in the 1960s remembered as a significant turning point for civil rights is the Civil Rights Act of 1964. This landmark legislation prohibited discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex, or national origin, representing a critical victory in the civil rights movement in the United States. Spearheaded by leaders such as Martin Luther King Jr. and organizations like the NAACP, the Act was the culmination of years of activism, protests, and advocacy against racial segregation and discrimination. Its passage helped dismantle systemic barriers faced by African Americans and paved the way for further civil rights advances, including voting rights and equal opportunity in education and employment.