Final answer:
The motivation to start protests for civil rights was primarily against racial injustice, driven by grassroots activists striving for equal opportunities and an end to systemic discrimination during the 1960s.
Step-by-step explanation:
The main motivation to start protests for civil rights was racial injustice. During the 1960s, countless African Americans and other minority groups faced systemic discrimination and were denied access to equal economic and educational opportunities. Protests and campaigns led by grassroots activists were crucial in spurring the federal government to take action against these injustices. This fight against racial inequality was underscored by significant movements and organizations of the time, such as the African-American civil rights movement, which became a model for other minority groups striving for their rights. Despite some progress, including the passage of The Civil Rights Act of 1964, the battle to change attitudes and behaviors towards racial equality persisted into the following decades.