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.
White Plains is an unincorporated community located in Charles County in the State of Maryland in the United States of America, just south of Waldorf, Maryland. It is located at latitude 38°35'25" North; longitude 76°56'26" West. The United States Postal Service has assigned White Plains the ZIP Code 20695. While the commercial portion of White Plains is along U.S. Highway 301, the largest concentration of residences with the White Plains mailing address is actually six to seven miles to the West in developments off of Billingsley Road (see article on Bryans Road, Maryland). The area is growing with the population sprawl from the adjacent sizable city of Waldorf-St. Charles, and has opened new office parks, and in 2009 a scenic new rail trail. The Charles County Department of Health is headquartered in White Plains; a public golf course is also there. Plans to complete a new east-west connector road in the area are mired in controversy due to its environmental impact.