bad history

Chris Christie on Civil Rights

"I think people would have been happy to have a referendum on civil rights rather than fighting and dying in the streets in the South.” 

[to be fair, he elaborated: “My point is, they’re trying to say the only way to deal with a civil rights issue is through legislation, and my point is that in a state like this, the fact of the matter is their own polling belies that position.”]

Equally bad history in response to Christie's comment:

" It look legislative action to bring justice to all Americans, just as legislative action is the right way to bring marriage equality to all New Jerseyans.”

Regarding civil rights, legislative, executive or judicial action is rarely sufficient on its own.  Although, it can be used strategically.

For example

• Brown v Board (Southern towns shut down public schools or refused to integrate)
• Civil Rights Acts of 1964 and 1965  (it still took nonviolent direct action and tedious door-to-door organizing in the face of violence to integrate and register voters)