#OnThisDay August 6, 1965 the Voting Rights Act of 1965 was signed into law prohibiting racial discrimination in voting practices. Many southern states created obstacles preventing African American citizens from voting, such as enforcing literary tests. Local 1199 Drug and Hospital Union members joined hundreds of others in Mississippi marching in support of minority voter registration. These demonstrations gained national attention prompting President Johnson and Congress to create national voting rights legislation. By the end of 1965, 250,000 new African Americans were registered to vote. . 1. A large group of children gather around a sign encouraging people to register to vote. Photographer: Unknown . 2. Local 1199 members helped register newly-enfranchised voters. Photographer: Unknown . [#5933P #Local1199 #Photograph Collection #KheelCenter #ILRSchool #CornellRAD] #laborarchives #laborhistory #labor #unions #fromthearchives #history #tdih #otd #local1199 #seiu1199 #seiu #hospitalworkers #votingrightsact #1965 #votingrights #LBJ (at Brooklyn, New York) https://www.instagram.com/p/CDiugOvJQsR/?igshid=rnro39e4r9jw