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.
Walker Valley is a hamlet located in the western part of the Town of Shawangunk in Ulster County, New York, U.S. , generally thought of as coterminous with the 12588 ZIP code. The population was 758 at the 2000 census. Walker Valley is one of the three geographic parts of the town that local residents use. It is centered around NY 52 in the western part of town, where it begins to slope up to the Shawangunk Ridge.