The civil rights rallies and protests of the 1960s were significant in challenging systemic racial discrimination in the United States. Organized by figures such as Martin Luther King Jr., these events galvanized public support for civil rights legislation. Demonstrations like the March on Washington not only raised awareness of injustices faced by African Americans but also led to critical legal reforms such as the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the Voting Rights Act of 1965. These rallies were instrumental in advancing the cause of racial equality.