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.
Bethel is a town in Fairfield County, Connecticut, United States, about sixty miles from New York City. Its population was estimated at 18,760 in 2005. In the 2000 Census, the town center was defined by the U.S. Census Bureau as a census-designated place (CDP). The town is near Interstate 84 and has a train station on the Danbury Branch of Metro-North's New Haven line.