Court Upholds Law Prohibiting Discrimination in Hotels

On December 14th, 1964, the U.S. Supreme Court issued a decision forcing businesses to abide by the Civil Rights Act of 1964. Moreton Rolleston, Jr., owner of The Heart of Atlanta motel, sued the government to bar enforcement of its provisions. The justices upheld the constitutionality of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the motel was ordered to stop refusing service to African Americans.