Our civil rights guarantee that we are protected from discrimination. Still, some people are discriminated against in education, employment, housing, and more based on their race, gender, and religion, among other things. Some individuals experience racial discrimination in housing, refusal of service due to gender, or workplace sexual harassment. To uphold your freedoms, you need to understand the importance of civil rights and know what qualifies them as violations. It is also best to employ the best civil rights attorney possible at a firm like Strom Law to help you.
What Are Civil Rights?
Civil rights are liberties derived from our basic human rights. But what are the basic rights of people, anyway? We have thirty fundamental rights that exist simply because we are human beings. These standards recognize and protect the dignity and humanity of everyone and govern how individuals live in society and among each other. Our basic human rights are transposed into actionable laws as civil rights.
Civil rights refer to our freedom from discrimination in education, employment, access to public facilities, and housing. We are protected from unequal treatment, access, or security based on protected characteristics, which include:
- Race or skin color
- Disability (including temporary or in recovery)
- Religion
- Sex, gender identity, and sexual orientation
- Immigration or citizenship status
- Language and national origin (including ancestry and ethnicity)
- Family, marital, or parental status (including pregnancy)
- Age
- Genetic identification
- Service member status
Our civil rights implore the government to employ positive actions to create equal conditions for everyone. When civil rights are violated, citizens can bring these issues to court.
What Counts as a Civil Rights Violation?
A civil rights violation is an offense that suppresses the granted freedoms of an individual due to discrimination on the basis of being a member of a protected category. These frequently involve misconduct by government officials and law enforcement officers.
When a civil rights violation occurs, the offender may be prosecuted under certain criminal statutes.
Common Examples of Civil Rights Violations
Civil rights violations can include many things. Here are some common examples:
Workplace Discrimination
Civil rights violations happen in the workplace when negative employment outcomes arise due to discrimination based on any of the protected characteristics unrelated to job performance or qualifications. Examples include being fired, demoted, or given less compensation due to sex or race, being denied accommodation for a disability, or even being retaliated against for reporting discrimination.
Housing Discrimination
If you are denied housing, a permit, a loan, or harassed by a landlord or tenant due to your sex, race, civil status, or disability, then your civil rights are being violated.
Discrimination in Education
Some civil rights violations in the education sector include harassment based on one of the protected characteristics, denial of admission or being segregated in a program or activity, or denial of educational accommodations due to a disability or language barrier.
Mistreatment by Police
Police mistreatment is a typical occurrence of a violation. Instances of these include police brutality or excessive force, searches and arrests under false pretenses, denial of rights when arrested or incarcerated, or denial of access to safe living conditions while incarcerated.
Hate Crime
Hate crimes are violations that cause physical harm or attempt to cause injury with a dangerous weapon because of one of the protected characteristics. It also includes attacks, threats of violence, or the destruction of property.
Human Trafficking
Human trafficking is forced labor or sex work for profit and can occur in various types of work. It is a violation of civil rights when a person is forced to work under threat or forced to undergo sex work through harm–including emotional or psychological manipulation.
What Do I Do if My Civil Rights Are Violated?
After verifying a civil rights violation, you have three options–you may agree to settle the matter, file a claim with a government agency, or file a lawsuit in civil court. No matter what route you take, it is essential that you have a knowledgeable and experienced civil rights lawyer from Strom Law Firm to help you navigate the complex processes and resolve your claim.
