By Jennifer Lague

Roughly 50 years ago, Lyndon Johnson signed into legislation the Civil Rights act of 1964 a landmark piece of civil rights legislation that outlawed discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex, or national origin. It ended unequal application of voter registration requirements and racial segregation in schools, at the workplace and by facilities that served the general public.

This past Thursday The Learning Commons hosted a panel discussion to commemorate the passage of this landmark bill. Organized by SMCC History Department Instructor Herb Adams, who is a former Maine State representative, and the Learning Common’s Lisa McDaniels, guest speakers: Attorney Harold Pachios, who was Assistant Secretary to Lyndon B. Johnson, the Honorable Gerald Talbot, First President of the Portland Branch of the NAACP and a Voting Rights Activist, and Attorney Zach Heiden, the Chief Counsel of the Maine Civil Liberties Union spoke of past and present struggles of achieving civil rights for all Americans.

What was truly amazing about this panel discussion was the proximity that both Harold Pachios and Gerald Talbot had in relationship to Lyndon Johnson, and the 1963 March on Washington DC.

Both panelist spoke glowingly about their involvement with the passage of this legislation sharing insightful stories with a captive audience. Mr. Pachios shared his understanding of Lyndon Johnson as a practical politician who implored congress members to do what is right for America first, by voting for the act.

Gerald Talbot, an African American and Maine native, who was born and raised in Bangor Maine, spoke from a personal point of view sharing his stories about fighting discrimination in Maine as well as in other states.

Mr. Talbot, who became the first African American to serve in the Maine House of Representatives serving from 1972 to 1978, witnessed first hand the emotional scarring and physical harm that racial discrimination wrought on its victims. When asked to elaborate on what he witnessed, Gerald spoke of how he and his wife were evicted from housing units in Portland numerous times. These hardships channeled Talbot’s energies into filing three housing discrimination suits.

Talbot’s fight against discrimination also saw him sponsor a bill to remove the “n”word from 12 Maine place-names.

Rounding out the panelist was Zachery Heiden who spoke of current push back against everyone’s cevil rights reminding the audience that the struggle for equality is a never ending conflict. He spoke about withholding healthcare fom immigrants who have landed here in Maine who have not yet been nationalized.

All in all, the panel discussion was well worth the time and energy that Herb Adams and Lisa McDaniels put into it. Such events serve an incredible purpose, especially when panelist such as, Mr. Pachios and Mr. Talbot, who willingly share their insights and experiences in the battle for civil rights. A battle in which Mr. Heiden and his colleagues are working towards their own obolesence as hard as they can. Hopefully, someday we will all see that day.