The American Civil Rights Congress's delegation, led by prominent civil rights activists, presented a damning indictment against the United States government to the United Nations. Their document, 'We Charge Genocide,' articulated claims of systematic oppression, social injustice, and violent discrimination against African Americans, asserting these conditions constituted genocide under the legal definition established by the UN. The Congress believed that international intervention was necessary to rectify these human rights abuses. The document highlighted numerous acts of violence, disenfranchisement, and systemic racism pervading American society, significantly underscoring the urgent need for change.

The presentation took place at a crucial moment in American history, when the civil rights movement was gaining momentum but struggling against deep-rooted racial inequities. The Civil Rights Congress, alongside other organizations, recognized that the fight for civil rights required not only national attention but also international support. Their appeal to the United Nations represented a strategic shift, as activists sought to frame domestic racial issues within a global human rights discourse. By invoking the principles outlined in the United Nations Charter, the Congress aimed to compel the UN to intervene and pressure the U.S. to uphold its commitments to human rights.

The global community received this initiative with varied reactions, but it undeniably intensified the conversation around civil rights and human dignity. Activists believed that by drawing international attention to their plight, they could catalyze change that would lead to greater rights and protections for African Americans. The action also set a precedent for framing civil rights struggles as legitimate matters of international concern, thereby broadening the scope and audience for civil rights discourse beyond U.S. borders.