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.
Stephens City is an incorporated town in southern part of Frederick County, Virginia, United States and is a part of the Winchester, Virginia-West Virginia Metropolitan Statistical Area. The population was 1,146 at the 2000 census, and estimated to be 1,446 in 2006. The town was founded by and named for Lewis Stephens in September of 1758. Stephens City is the second oldest in the Shenandoah Valley behind near by Winchester. The town celebrated its bicenquinquagenary, or 250th anniversary, on September 1, 2008. A large section of the center of the town is part of the Newtown-Stephensburg Historic District, a nationally recognized historic district.