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.
Wilberforce is a census-designated place (CDP) in Greene County, Ohio, United States. The population was 1,579 at the 2000 census. It is the home of two historically black universities. Wilberforce University was established in 1856 by the Methodist Episcopal Church and African Methodist Episcopal Church. Central State University originated as a normal school and expanded to a college and university. The community was named for the English statesman William Wilberforce, who worked for abolition of slavery and achieved the end of the slave trade in Great Britain and its empire before he died in 1833. The community was important as a stop on the Underground Railroad before the American Civil War, with seven stations. It has also been important in the history of black education, with Wilberforce University the first college owned and operated by African Americans, and for which African Americans were among the founders. With its National Afro-American Museum and Cultural Center, the university has expanded its learning opportunities for the regional community. The Association of African American Museums, also located in Wilberforce, works to build professional capacity among smaller museums. Wilberforce is part of the Dayton Metropolitan Statistical Area.