Notes

In my community one structure that sustains civil rights gains is the Unruh Civil Rights Act which was put in place in 1959, applies to California and states that, "All persons within the jurisdiction of this state are free and equal, and no matter what ... race ... are entitled to the full and equal accommodations, advantages, facilities, privileges, or services in all business establishments of every kind whatsoever."(GamutOnline, Unruh Civil Rights Act 1). The civil penalty for breaking this act is $4,000 which may seem like it discourages racism but the problems with this act, as is the problem with many other acts, is that not many people know of this act, not many people are brave enough or have the time to take up a lawsuit, and a lot of people feel like they lack the evidence to prove they have been discriminated against. For these reasons and more a lot of civil rights acts and gains like these that prohibit discrimination could be undermined sometimes by a lack of evidence to prove discrimination and a lack of time to take up a lawsuit. Fortunately, with a recent rise in the use of video cameras and audio systems in businesses it could become easier to prove and find racism and prejudice and prosecute those being racist. In addition, if more people become aware of civil rights acts like the Unruh Act and the penalty of 4,000 which victims could receive from offenders it is likely that more people will take up lawsuits and less people will discriminate. In conclusion, if we work to put in place and make people aware of civil rights acts such as the Unruh Act and put more cameras in workplaces it will be easier to punish racism and racism will be discouraged.