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.
Greer is a city in both Greenville and Spartanburg counties in the U.S. state of South Carolina, between the cities of Greenville and Spartanburg. The population was 16,843 at the 2000 census. As of 2008, 26,040 people live in the city and is projected to hit 30,000 within 4 years. Each day, more than three times that number of people pass through the city on the two highways which run through the city. The Greenville County portion of Greer is part of the Greenville–Mauldin–Easley Metropolitan Statistical Area, while the Spartanburg County portion is part of the Spartanburg Metropolitan Statistical Area. Greer is adjacent to Greenville-Spartanburg International Airport, which serves Greenville, Spartanburg, and The Upstate. Greer is also the site of the only BMW manufacturing facility in North America. According to a June 2005 article in The Greenville News, BMW's Greer plant employs about 4,600 workers, and has attracted dozens of suppliers in South Carolina, providing jobs for more than 12,000 workers. Greer has also been home to the Michelin North America main headquarters for almost a quarter of a century. It is South Carolina's fifth biggest employer. Its longtime presence in South Carolina has amassed a work force of 9,000 and owns seven manufacturing facilities in South Carolina: Anderson, Greenville, Lexington, Spartanburg and Winnsboro.