A civil right is an enforceable right or privilege, which if interfered with by another gives rise to an action for injury. Examples of civil rights are freedom of speech, press, and assembly; the right to vote; freedom from involuntary servitude; and the right to equality in public places. Discrimination occurs when the civil rights of an individual are denied or interfered with because of their membership in a particular group or class. Statutes have been enacted to prevent discrimination based on race, sex, religion, age, previous condition of servitude, physical limitation, national origin, and in some instances sexual preference. Civil rights attorneys handle cases involving the rights of individuals to be free from unequal treatment (or discrimination) based on legally-protected characteristics such as race, gender, disability, national origin, age, sexual orientation, and religion. Civil rights cases can arise in a number of settings -- including employment, housing, lending, and education.
Beckwourth is a census-designated place (CDP) in Plumas County, California, United States. The population was 342 at the 2000 census. According to the USGS National Geographic Names Database, a variant spelling was Beckwith and its name comes from an early explorer who had changed his name from Beckwith to Beckwourth: Named for James P. Beckwourth (d.1867), adventurer, trapper, and trail blazer who discovered Beckwourth Pass in 1851. Beckwourth built the first house in the Sierra Valley where he operated an inn and trading post. During the 1850's, Beckwourth Pass was the portal of an immigrant route into California through Lassen, Plumas, Butte and Yuba counties known as the Beckwourth Trail.