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.
La Belle is a city in Lewis County, Missouri, United States. The population was 669 at the 2000 census. It is part of the Quincy, IL–MO Micropolitan Statistical Area. Although this article lists La Belle as two words in the French tradition, residents write it as "LaBelle". The city of La Belle was incorporated in 1872, although it had been a village and stage coach stop much earlier.