Although slavery was officially banned in 1865, former slaves and their families were far from free. People who were not white were routinely barred from restaurants, movie theaters, buses, and more. In an attempt to end racial discrimination, civil rights leaders organized peaceful demonstrations. However, peaceful protesters were often attacked and sometimes killed. The tension was felt throughout the United States. Finally, after hundreds of years of oppression and segregation, the Civil Rights Act was signed into law on July 2, 1964, guaranteeing equal rights for all.