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Celebrating Progress: Iconic Photos That Paved the Way for Tuesday’s Civil Rights Victories

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Posted Thursday, Nov. 8, 2012, at 7:00 AM ET

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Magnum photographers document progess of blacks, women and gay rights.
Gay March on Washington April 25, 1993.

Constantine Manos/Magnum Photos.

Tuesday was a big day for many reasons. America now has 20 female senators. Gay marriage passed by referendum in three states. And, of course, we re-elected America’s first African-American president. Nov. 6 will go down in history as an incredible day for the advancement of civil rights in this country. Naturally, all of these gains didn’t happen overnight—rather, they were the result of long, hard-fought battles for equality.

Magnum photographers have recorded many of the struggles over the right to vote, the right to marry, and the right to be included in the political process.  Below is a selection of iconic, memorable moments throughout the 20th century that helped lead to the historic gains on Tuesday.

Magnum photographers document progess of blacks, women, and gay rights.
Police attack on a civil rights demonstration in Brooklyn, New York, 1963.

Leonard Freed/Magnum Photos.
Magnum photographers document progess of blacks, women, and gay rights.
Young women attend a women's liberation rally in Miami, 1972.

Abbas/Magnum Photos.
Magnum photographers document progess of blacks, women, and gay rights.
25th anniversary of gay revolt at Stonewall in New York City, 1994.

Paul Fusco/Magnum Photos.
Magnum photographers document progess of blacks, women, and gay rights.
Women's rights march on Fifth Avenue in New York City, 1970.

Bob Adelman/Magnum Photos.
Magnum photographers document progess of blacks, women, and gay rights.
Black movement for integration. Teaching the illiterate to write so they can vote in Virginia, 1960.

Eve Arnold/Magnum Photos.
Magnum photographers document progess of blacks, women, and gay rights.
Frances "Sissy" Farenthold for vice president rally. Gloria Steinem at the lectern, 1972.

Leonard Freed/Magnum Photos.
Magnum photographers document progess of blacks, women, and gay rights.
Hecklers insult two black women who are part of a voting rights drive in Selma, Ala., 1965.

Bob Adelman/Magnum Photos.
Magnum photographers document progess of black, women and gay rights.
Overseen by a white registrar, a black citizen trained by CORE fieldworkers answers a rigorous questionnaire in an attempt to register to vote during freedom summer in Baton Rouge, La., 1964.

Bob Adelman/Magnum Photos.

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