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Civil Rights are a series of rights that are shared by all that if infringed or inhibited could be a cause for action. The right to vote, freedom of speech and expression, and the expectation of equality in public places are all examples of civil rights. These rights are protected at a number of levels, from federal law to local ordinances.
A civil rights violation occurs when one or more of those rights is infringed upon, usually by some form of discrimination. Civil rights laws, from local to federal, protect against discrimination on a number of bases including but not limited to race, sex, religion, age, disability and national origin. The categories for discriminatory protection are specifically enumerated in each statute. Congress has used its power to regulate interstate commerce along with its funding power to expand the reach of civil rights legislation to any company partaking in interstate commerce or receiving federal funding.
The Civil Rights Act of 1964 specifically cites race, color, sex, religion or national origin. Local ordinances might extend to categories such as sexual orientation depending on the location. Other Civil rights legislation protects against retaliation, as in the NO FEAR Act of 2002. Congress has also passed legislation to protect against age discrimination in employment. Gender discrimination has been taken on in the Equal Pay Act. Both the Americans with Disability Act and the Rehabilitation Act protect the disabled from discrimination. This list is by no means all inclusive. Both state and local statutes fill in many areas that federal legislation either does not or can not reach.
Each civil rights law has a very specific scope, protecting specific individuals in specific environments. For more information on specific categories of discrimination please see our other practice areas which cover in more depth the specific types of discrimination you might be encountering. If you believe that your civil rights have been violated, you may benefit from a consultation with an attorney at Melehy & Associates.
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