Civil rights violations have been very much in the news in the last several years as more and more citizens have stood up for themselves and pushed back against those trying to deprive them of their rights under the law. Civil rights are more than a promise, they are a legal guarantee of fair and equal treatment – free of discrimination – and they apply to many aspects of our lives as Americans, including in housing, in education, in employment and in public accommodation. If you feel that your civil rights have been violated, there are several actions that you can take, including filing a civil rights violation complaint with the government or filing a lawsuit against the parties responsible.
Your first step is to determine whether your rights have been violated. According to the American Civil Liberties Union, there are many different categories of rights that are protected and that may be violated, including:
- Religious freedom
- Student rights
- Rights when stopped by police
- Voting rights
- Sexual discrimination
- Race, Ethnicity or National Origin Discrimination
- Immigrants’ rights
- Pregnancy discrimination
- LGBTQ rights
Whether you want to pursue a civil rights violation through a lawsuit or not, it makes sense to discuss your situation with a civil rights violation attorney in order to ensure that you are properly equipping yourself with all of the documentation and protections that you need. You may need to file a formal complaint with the government agency that is related to the violation you’ve suffered. Once a complaint is filed, the agency will initiate an investigation into the facts of your case and may take action to remedy the situation. This may lead to negotiation or mediation or to the government acting on your behalf in court.
As Americans, we all have the right to enjoy our lives without being discriminated against based on our membership in a class protected by law. One of the most effective ways to address a civil rights violation is to file a lawsuit against those responsible. Whether the civil rights violation you’ve suffered has involved your ability to gain entry into a school, to be considered for a job, to be allowed to live in a place of your choosing or to have access and equal treatment in any other part of public life, contact our office today to set up an appointment and hear how we can help.