The event widely credited with launching the civil rights movement in the United States is the Supreme Court's decision in Brown v. Board of Education in 1954. This landmark case declared state laws enforcing racial segregation in public schools unconstitutional, thereby challenging the legality of segregation. It was a pivotal moment that inspired activists and organizations to push for broader civil rights reforms. The decision not only fueled the momentum for further actions against racial injustice but also galvanized various social movements, laying the groundwork for legislative changes, such as the Civil Rights Act of 1964.