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Civil Rights
Civil rights are any of the civil liberties guaranteed by the 13th, 14th, and 15th Amendments to the Constitution and by the Civil Rights Acts. Civil rights are also protected under state constitutions. There are also numerous state and federal statutes that protect a person's civil rights.
Most often, civil rights refer to protections against discrimination on the basis of race, gender, national origin, and in some cases, sexual orientation.
Civil rights laws, in general, apply to public institutions such as public housing, government employment, or public accommodations, and not to private institutions or individuals, unless they are acting under government authority. Discrimination based on race, color, religion, or national origin in public establishments that have a connection to interstate commerce supported by the state is also prohibited.
You are not protected under the civil rights laws if a random person on the street uses racial or sexual epithets against you. However, you may succeed on a claim against an individual if he or she is acting under "color of law," i.e. he is acting under the government's authority. For instance, if a police officer assaults you because of your race, gender, or national origin, and if he or she does so acting as a police officer, he is acting under color of law.
Civil rights lawyers represent individuals who believe that a government agency or government agent has violated a constitutional or federal right. Examples include police brutality; discrimination based on race, religion, sex, disability, or age; violations voting rights; free speech, and other civil rights laws.
If you or someone you care about have been the victim of a civil rights violation, contact Harper & Rogers for a free consultation.