The significance of the **civil rights protests** in the 1960s was profound, as they brought national attention to issues of racial inequality and injustice in the United States. Key events, such as the March on Washington and the Selma to Montgomery marches, highlighted the struggle for voting rights and desegregation. Efforts led by figures like Martin Luther King Jr. influenced the passage of landmark legislation, including the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the Voting Rights Act of 1965. These protests not only transformed society's views on race but also inspired future generations of activism across various social justice movements.