Some examples of Jim Crow laws are the segregation of public schools, public places,waiting rooms, buses, trains, restrooms, restaurants and drinking fountains.
The separation of African Americans from the general population was legalized in the "Progressive Era" (1890s–1920s), and was done by Democrts. Early in that period, many businesses did not want to discriminate -- why would they want to cut back on their customer base? --- but were forced to by law.
Woodrow Wilson, Democrat, the first southern-born president after the Civil War, appointed southerners to his cabinet who pressed for segregation in Federal offices; work places in general were segregated post-World War I, by law.
These laws shaped a segregated culture, so that eventually even sports, churches, and other institutions separated the races.
But the point is that the problem originated from government coercing the choices of businesses and consumers. Defending the right of businesses and individual citizens to buy, sell, do business and associate as they choose, is not the problem. It's the solution.
And that's Rand Paul's bottom line.
Yes, good point. The Jim Crow Laws were LAWS. The government FORCED discrimination.
The government should not be in the business of forcing behavior and patrolling people’s private thoughts.
It is right to try to make people ashamed of being racists. It is wrong to use the law to micromanage their behavior. That never works.
Finally, we need to point out that ALL of those Jim Crow laws were enforced by Southern DEMOCRATS. Slavery and racism were imposed by Democrats, and ended by Republicans. I simply cannot understand how the Republicans can be so stupid as to let the Democrats get away with rewriting history like that.
Fight back, you wimps! Be proud of what you stand for.