---
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"
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](/usc/42/1320a–7k.md?p=d-4-C-i) shall (a) withhold, deny, or attempt to withhold or deny, or deprive or attempt to deprive any [person](/usc/42/1320a–7k.md?p=d-4-C-i) 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](/usc/42/1320a–7k.md?p=d-4-C-i) 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](/usc/42/1320a–7k.md?p=d-4-C-i) 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.)