Rep. John Blatnik in the Fight for Civil Rights in the United States

The paper focuses on the activities of US Rep. John Blatnik (D-MN 8th District) in the House of Representatives between 1963 and 1964, when the landmark Civil Rights Act was passed that finally eliminated lawful discrimination against black Americans. The paper summarizes original letters from constituents in Minnesota’s 8th Congressional District, where many Slovenian Americans lived. The paper briefly summarizes the history of racial discrimination in the United States.

Keywords: Civil Rights Act, House of Representatives, discharge petition, Rules Committee, filibuster