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.
North Andover is a town in Essex County, Massachusetts, United States. The population was 27,202 at the 2000 census. North Andover is the nominal home of Merrimack College, a private, Catholic four-year college (though the college has expanded into Andover as well). From 1646 to her death in 1672, North Andover was the home of America's first published poet, Anne Dudley Bradstreet and her family.