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.
Dixon Springs is an unincorporated community in Smith County, Tennessee, United States. Once a thriving area between Carthage and Hartsville, the community is still quaint with many antebellum homes and significant cemeteries of early settlers in the area, including that of Col. William Martin, pioneer of the region and eldest son of General Joseph Martin of Virginia. Dixon Springs was settled prior to 1787 by its namesake, Tilman Dixon, Revolutionary War soldier, where his historic home, Dixona, site of the first Smith County court meeting, still stands. The ZIP code for Dixon Springs is 37057 and covers a very broad area even beyond Dixon Springs to include the communities of Hillsdale and Cato in Macon and Trousdale counties, respectively.