Today marks the 50th anniversary of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, which outlawed discrimination based on race, colour, religion, sex, or national origin in the US.

The act was called for by President John F Kennedy in his civil rights speech of 11 June 1963 and signed into law by President Lyndon B Johnson on 2 July 1964.

To mark the anniversary, IBTimesUK looks back at key moments in the struggle.