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.
Thomaston is an unincorporated community in southeastern DeWitt County, Texas, United States. It lies along U.S. Route 87 southeast of the city of Cuero, the county seat of DeWitt County. Its elevation is 161 feet (49 m). Although Thomaston is unincorporated, it has a post office, with the ZIP code of 77989. Founded along the Gulf, Western Texas and Pacific Railroad in 1872, the community was named for Nathan Thomas, who had previously owned part of the land on which the community was built. The community's post office was opened in 1873; schools were started early in the community's history, although local students now attend the Cuero schools. Thomaston has declined in recent decades as non-railroad transportation has become significant.