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.
Tamaqua is a borough in eastern Schuylkill County, Pennsylvania, in the United States. The borough, located in Pennsylvania's Coal Region, had a population of 7,174 as of the 2000 U.S. Census. 2007 estimate was 6,696 population, down 7%. The name, pronounced tuh-MAH-qwuh, is a Native American word that means "Land of the Beaver. " The town also is known as "The Land of the Running Water. " The name is unique in that Tamaqua is the only community in the world with this name.