Which landmark case upheld Title II of the Civil Rights Act of 1964?

The significance of the Heart of Atlanta Motel v. U.S. case lies in its clear affirmation of Title II of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, which prohibits discrimination in public accommodations on the basis of race, color, religion, or national origin. The Supreme Court ruled that Congress had the authority to regulate interstate commerce and, thus, enforce desegregation in places like hotels, which serve travelers crossing state lines.

In this case, the motel owner argued that he should be allowed to refuse service to black customers, claiming it was a matter of local business operations. However, the Court determined that discrimination in public accommodations has a direct impact on interstate commerce and that the federal government could intervene to prohibit such discriminatory practices. This ruling not only reinforced the Civil Rights Act but also set a precedent for subsequent civil rights litigation and legislation.

The other cases listed, such as Brown v. Board of Education and Loving v. Virginia, addressed issues related to racial segregation in education and marriage, respectively, while Roe v. Wade focused on reproductive rights, making them unrelated to Title II of the Civil Rights Act.