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.
Covington is a city in Newton County, Georgia, United States. The population was 11,547 as of the 2000 census. Census Estimates of 2005 indicate a population of 13,856. The city is the county seat of Newton County Incorporated in 1822, Covington was named for General Leonard Covington, a hero of the War of 1812. The city grew with the advent of the railroad in 1845, and in 1864, General Sherman's troops marched through during their March to the Sea. Although the city was looted, several antebellum homes were spared. Covington has served as the location for filming of several television shows, including In the Heat of the Night, the first five episodes of The Dukes of Hazzard and major films including My Cousin Vinny, Remember the Titans, ' and Halloween II, Rob Zombie's sequel to his 2007 film Halloween. Currently, The CW's television series The Vampire Diaries uses downtown Covington as the filming location for the fictional town of Mystic Falls, Virginia.