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.
Woody Creek is an unincorporated town and a U.S. Post Office located in Pitkin County, Colorado, United States. The Woody Creek Post Office has the ZIP Code 81656. Woody Creek is situated in the valley of the Roaring Fork River northwest of Aspen, along State Highway 82, where Woody Creek exits a canyon and joins the Roaring Fork. It is situated at the northwest (and least developed) end of a small valley that stretches southeast along the Roaring Fork to Aspen. The community is centered around the Woody Creek Tavern, a well-known landmark that sits along a county road, somewhat concealed from State Highway 82. Adjacent to the tavern is a trailer park and several homes, ranging from modest older ones to newer upscale structures. Patrons of the tavern can request a postcard from the bar which comes with postage for USA delivery, which can be scrawled upon and dropped off at the nearby post office. At one time the Woody Creek Tavern sponsored a legal defense fund for the CEO of Enron, Kenneth Lay; specifically, a jar on the top of the bar, in which patrons could drop their donations. The jar contained items such as screws, condoms, toothpicks, a small toy figure of a man with broken legs, string, rubber bands, pennies and IOUs. Woody Creek was the residence of noted author Hunter S. Thompson for much of his life and at the time of his death. It also has been the home of several other notable popular celebrities and musicians including the late broadcaster Ed Bradley, Don Henley of the Eagles, John Oates, and actor Don Johnson. Currently, U.S. Speaker Of the House Nancy Pelosi has a winter home in Woody Creek off Star Mesa Rd. Woody Creek was the residence of many of the founding members of the Aspen Ridiculous Theatre Company (ART-C). ART-C founders lived at both ends of Woody Creek Canyon - in the trailer park adjacent to the Tavern and in shotgun mining shacks along the Woody Creek headwaters in Lenado. ART-C is famous for its annual WInterskol show ("Hey Butthole, it's WInterskol!") and spring extravaganzas at the Wheeler Opera House.