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.
East Meadow is a hamlet (and census-designated place or CDP) in Nassau County, New York, United States. East Meadow is an unincorporated area of the Town of Hempstead. Its name is derived from being the meadow of Hempstead Plains east of the Meadow Brook (originally a brook, now replaced by a parkway of the same name). Located just 30 miles (48 km) from downtown Manhattan and with approximately 86% of residents commuting to work, East Meadow is a thriving suburb of New York. The population was 37,461 at the 2000 census. East Meadow's postal ZIP code is 11554, and its telephone area code is 516.