Part of what makes America great are the civil rights guaranteed to each and every person in the United States. Our government has enacted legislation to protect our civil rights and ensure that people have equal opportunity and access in endeavors such as employment, healthcare, housing and voting. Civil rights also encumbers many protections from federal and state government (and police) which are afforded to us all.
The primary source for civil rights in the US is found in the “Bill of Rights.” The Bill of Rights is the collective name for the first ten amendments to the U.S. Constitution. The Bill of Rights guarantee:
- The right to freedom of religion
- The right to keep and bear arms
- The right to be free from quartering soldiers
- The right to be free from unreasonable searches and seizures
- The right to due process
- The right to a speedy and public trial
- The right to a trial by jury
- The right to be free from cruel and unusual punishment
- Nothing in the Constitution can cancel Amendments to it
- Balance of power between federal government and states
Since the “Bill of Rights”, there have been several other landmark pieces of federal legislation that created civil rights, including:
Civil Rights Act of 1964 – created right not to be discriminated against on the basis of sex or race in hiring, promoting or firing. This has since been expanded to prohibit discrimination base of their color, disability, national origin, race, religion, sex, or age in employment.
Voting Rights Act of 1965 – created the right not be discriminated in voting.
Civil Rights Act of 1968 – created the right to equal housing opportunities regardless of race, creed or national origin.
Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 – created the right for people with disabilities not to be discriminated against in public accommodation, transportation, employment, communications, and governmental activities.
Civil Rights Act of 1991 – strengthened civil rights act of 1964 creating damages intentional employment discrimination.
In addition to these landmark pieces of legislation, there are other civil rights laws which have been enacted by federal and state legislatures. These laws are then interpreted by the Courts.
Philadelphia Civil Rights Lawyer – Brent Wieand Esq.
Brent Wieand is a civil rights lawyer in Philadelphia that fights hard to protect the rights of normal people who have been discriminated against or become the victim of police abuse. He knows how important these rights are to all of us and will not shy away from cases that have great social significance. Attorney Wieand welcomes the opportunity to litigate civil rights cases that make a difference. He is proud to serve clients in cases involving:
- Police Brutality and False Arrest
- Employment Discrimination
- Malicious Prosecution
- Civil Rights Violations (Section 1983 Litigation)
- Gender Discrimination
- Racial Discrimination
When your civil rights have been violated, you need an aggressive attorney who knows the ropes and won’t back down from a fight. Attorney Wieand is an experienced litigator who works tirelessly to pursue justice and fight for the rights of everyday people who have been denied the privileges guaranteed to us all. This includes handling cases involving civil rights violations, serious personal injury and whistleblower litigation.
If you think that your rights have been violated, call attorney Brent Wieand at 1(888) 789-3161 for a free consultation or fill out a description of your claim in the online contact form.
