---
kind: "section"
citation: "42 U.S.C. § 2000a–2"
title: "42"
title_heading: "The Public Health and Welfare"
number: "2000a–2"
heading: "Prohibition against deprivation of, interference with, and punishment for exercising rights and privileges secured by section 2000a or 2000a–1 of this title"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/42/2000a-2"
units:
  - "Chapter 21 — Civil Rights"
  - "Subchapter II — Public Accommodations"
---

# §2000a–2. Prohibition against deprivation of, interference with, and punishment for exercising rights and privileges secured by section 2000a or 2000a–1 of this title


No person shall (a) withhold, deny, or attempt to withhold or deny, or deprive or attempt to deprive any person of any right or privilege secured by section [2000a](/usc/42/2000a.md) or [2000a–1](/usc/42/2000a–1.md) of this title, or (b) intimidate, threaten, or coerce, or attempt to intimidate, threaten, or coerce any person with the purpose of interfering with any right or privilege secured by section [2000a](/usc/42/2000a.md) or [2000a–1](/usc/42/2000a–1.md) of this title, or (c) punish or attempt to punish any person for exercising or attempting to exercise any right or privilege secured by section [2000a](/usc/42/2000a.md) or [2000a–1](/usc/42/2000a–1.md) of this title.


## Source credit

(Pub. L. 88–352, title II, § 203, July 2, 1964, 78 Stat. 244.)