Civil Rights Act 50th anniversary marked in Chicago

CHICAGO (WLS) -- Governor Pat Quinn marked the 50th anniversary of the Civil Rights Act by signing legislation aimed at helping African American families.

The signing took place at Quinn Chapel AME Church, the oldest African American congregation in Chicago. The new law will extend the role of the Illinois African American Family Commission. The group was formed to develop and evaluate policies for black families.

"It gives us the expertise to look and assess each state agency on how it's impacting black families here. When it comes to bread and butter issues, job training, economics," said State Rep. Ken Dunkin, D-Chicago.

President Lyndon Johnson signed the Civil Rights Act into law on July 2, 1964. It was aimed at ending legal discrimination based on race, sex, color, religion and national origin.