{"id":355604,"date":"2016-04-04T10:41:57","date_gmt":"2016-04-04T15:41:57","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/content.findlaw-admin.com\/ability-law\/civilrights\/civil-rights-overview\/have-your-civil-rights-been-violated.html"},"modified":"2026-01-20T15:50:40","modified_gmt":"2026-01-20T20:50:40","slug":"have-your-civil-rights-been-violated","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/civilrights\/civil-rights-overview\/have-your-civil-rights-been-violated.html","title":{"rendered":"Have Your Civil Rights Been Violated?"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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Have Your Civil Rights Been Violated?<\/h1>\n\n
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\n By Christie Nicholson, J.D.<\/a> | Legally reviewed by Catherine Hodder, Esq.<\/a>\n | Last updated\n
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This article has been written and reviewed for legal accuracy, clarity, and style by FindLaw\u2019s team of legal writers and attorneys<\/a> and in accordance with our editorial standards<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n\n <\/div>\n <\/details>\n\n

\n \n <\/i>\n Fact-Checked\n <\/summary>\n\n
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The last updated date refers to the last time this article was reviewed by FindLaw or one of our contributing authors<\/a>. We make every effort to keep our articles updated. For information regarding a specific legal issue affecting you, please contact an attorney in your area<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n\n <\/div>\n <\/details>\n<\/section>\n\n\n

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Key Takeaways<\/h2>\n

A civil rights violation is an unlawful act that infringes upon the basic protections and liberties guaranteed to citizens by the U.S. Constitution and federal or state laws. These violations occur when individuals are treated unfairly based on protected characteristics like race, religion, sex, or disability in areas such as housing, employment, and voting.<\/p>\n\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

You have certain basic rights under the U.S. Constitution<\/span> and state and federal laws<\/span>.\u00a0These laws cover everything from race discrimination<\/a>\u00a0and sexual harassment to\u00a0fair housing rights\u00a0violations. However, it can sometimes be difficult to determine whether you\u2019ve been the victim of a civil rights violation<\/span>.<\/p>\n

This article examines and explains the various federal and state anti-discrimination laws in this country. It also outlines what to do if someone violates your civil rights. Your options include informal negotiations, filing a claim with the state or federal government<\/span>, and filing a private discrimination lawsuit.<\/p>\n

If you believe someone, such as an employer or potential landlord, has violated your civil rights, this article contains the knowledge you\u2019ll need to seek relief. You should also consider contacting a local civil rights attorney<\/span><\/a> to discuss your case and determine the best course of action.<\/p>\n

Did Someone Violate One of Your\u00a0Protected Rights?<\/h2>\n

It\u2019s not always easy to be sure someone has violated one of your protected rights. Anti-discrimination and civil rights laws<\/span> protect only\u00a0certain rights. Some apparent\u00a0rights violations\u00a0are perfectly legal and will not justify a civil rights lawsuit. The examples below highlight the differences between lawful\u00a0discrimination\u00a0and an unlawful civil rights violation<\/span> in housing rights<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Example 1<\/strong>: Applicant 1, an owner of two dogs, fills out an application to lease an apartment from the landlord. Upon learning that Applicant 1 is a dog owner, the landlord refuses to rent the apartment to Applicant 1 because the building does not permit dogs.<\/p>\n

In this instance, the landlord has not committed a civil rights violation<\/span>\u00a0because being a pet owner is not a protected class. The landlord<\/a> is free to reject apartment applicants who own pets.<\/p>\n

Example 2<\/strong>:\u00a0Applicant 2, an African-American man, fills out an application to lease an apartment from the landlord. Upon learning that Applicant 2 is African American, Landlord refuses to rent the apartment to him because he prefers to have Caucasian tenants in the building.<\/p>\n

The landlord\u00a0has committed a civil rights violation<\/span><\/a>\u00a0by discriminating against Applicant 2 because they rejected the man\u2019s application solely on the basis of his race. Under federal and state fair housing and anti-discrimination laws, landlords may not reject an applicant because of their race.<\/p>\n

What Types of Rights Does the Law Protect?<\/h2>\n

The anti-discrimination laws in the United States protect citizens from a wide range of discrimination. The Civil Rights Act of 1964<\/span> protects people from racial discrimination, but it also protects many other rights.<\/p>\n

Some of the more common types of discrimination that are the subject of civil rights lawsuits include:<\/p>\n