The Struggle Continues 50 Years After Signing of the 1965 Voting Rights Act

"Democracy Now!" airs weekdays at 9 a.m. PT on KCET.

This week marks the 50th anniversary of a landmark achievement of the civil rights movement. It was August 6, 1965, when President Lyndon Johnson signed into law the Voting Rights Act, as Rev. Martin Luther King Jr., Rosa Parks, and now 14-term Congressman John Lewis looked on.

The law has been under constant attack ever since. Just two years ago, the Supreme Court struck down parts of the measure in a case called Shelby County, Alabama v. Holder when it ruled states with histories of voting-related racial discrimination no longer had to "pre-clear" changes to their voting laws with the federal government. One month later, North Carolina passed sweeping voting restrictions that cut early voting and eliminated same-day registration. During the midterm elections in 2014, these new rules prevented thousands from casting their vote. "Democracy Now!" speaks to Ari Berman, author of the new book, "Give Us the Ballot: The Modern Struggle for Voting Rights in America."