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.
Sweetwater is a town in Beckham and Roger Mills counties in the U.S. state of Oklahoma. It was incorporated in 2003. Named for nearby Sweetwater Creek, the town is at the junction of State Highway 30 and State Highway 152. The post office (zip code 73666), was established September 27, 1894. On May 5, 2007, a tornado, rated on the Enhanced Fujita Scale (EF scale) as EF3, travled on a path around 100 to 150 yards (91 to 138 m) wide and 7.5 miles (12 km) long. It began about 2.5 miles (4 km) south of Sweetwater and ended approximately 5 miles (8 km) north of Sweetwater, following State Highway 30. EF3 wind speeds range from 136 to 165 miles per/hour (mph; 219 to 266 km/h). It severely damaged several buildings in the town, including the church and high school, and destroyed eight homes. Elevation 2172 feet (662 m). It has an estimated population of around 103 people. The Sweetwater Public School District is one of the smallest public school districts in the state of Oklahoma. For the most recent data available, it tied with Boley for the smallest high school with 15 students. For a combined district, K-12, Sweetwater finished third behind, Boley (51) and Clarita (58), with 60 students.