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.
Baxter Springs is a city situated along the Spring River in the extreme southeastern part of Cherokee County, located in southeast Kansas, in the Central United States. The population was 4,602 at the 2000 census, and it was estimated to be 4,221 in the year 2006. It is the most populous city of Cherokee County. After the American Civil War, in the late 1860s, the town developed as one of the first "cow towns" in Kansas, where thousands of head of Texas cattle were driven to market. It was a stopping place on their way to northern markets. Baxter Springs downtown main street is part of the historic U.S. Route 66 that passes through Kansas.