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.
Catawissa is a small unincorporated community in Franklin County, Missouri, United States, on the St. Louis & San Francisco Railroad, 39 miles from St. Louis, Missouri. It was founded in 1839 and initially had four stores. It is located at the junction of Route N and Route O, southwest of Pacific. It has never been incorporated and has always been a township. Its post office opened in 1860. Latitude & Longitude: 38°25'29" N, 90°46'57" W (38.42472N, -90.7825W) Survey: T. 43 N. , R. 2 E. , Sec. 34 Elevation: 530 ft. Population 2,201 (2000 Census for Zip Code 63015 - Catawissa) As of 2007, the community consists of two churches, a post office, a school (Nike Elementary School), a state conservation area (Old Wooden River Bridge on north bank), a farm supply store, a bar, two gas stations (Wayside and Speedie Mart), one closed gas station (R&S) and several small shops. A strip mall is under construction at the intersection of Route N and Route O. Catawissa is the site where Bertha Gifford poisoned at least three and as many as seventeen people between 1911 and 1928. The house where most of the murders took place is still standing on Old Bend Road about one mile from the Meramec River.