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.
Meyersdale is a borough in Somerset County, Pennsylvania, on the Casselman River, 73 miles (111 km) southeast of Pittsburgh. In the past, its chief industry was the mining of coal. Meyersdale was first settled as early as 1776, but the growth of the town dates from the advent of the first railroad in 1871. Coal mining began in the next year. In 1900, 3,024 people resided here, and in 1910, 3,741 people resided here. The population was 2,473 at the 2000 census. It is part of the Johnstown, Pennsylvania Metropolitan Statistical Area. Meyersdale is widely known as a sports town. The small community has little to bond over since the slow decline of the coal industry, other than sports. The Meyersdale “Red Raiders” have appeared on the state radar in numerous sports: Girls Volleyball, Football, Girls Basketball, Wrestling, Baseball and Track & Field. The first state champions from Meyersdale Area High School were two brothers; David and Michael Warnick. David (class of 1988) won two individual PIAA state titles in 1987 and 1988. Michael (class of 1989) won the 1989 PIAA state title held in Hershey, PA..