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July 5, 2024

Civil Rights vs Civil Liberties

Written by Pointer & Buelna, LLP. Lawyers For The People, reviewed by Adanté Pointer

Find out the difference between Civil Rights vs Civil Liberties. Civil liberties are protections against undue government interference or intrusive and inappropriate action: whereas, civil rights protect you against discrimination and similar action. In today’s world, knowing your rights, including your civil liberties, is the key to standing up against injustice. 

Whether you are facing discrimination or have been a victim of police brutality, knowledge is power. At Pointer & Buelna, LLP, our team of California civil rights lawyers are deeply passionate about empowering our clients and the community at large.

Civil Rights vs. Civil Liberties: Know the Difference

To determine if something is a civil right or a civil liberty, you can ask two questions: What right is affected, and whose right is affected? Again, civil liberties protect individuals from undue government interference, ensuring fundamental rights and freedoms, while civil rights shield against discrimination based on protected characteristics. To summarize, civil liberties protect your rights to free speech, to fair trials, and so on. Civil rights shield against discrimination.

Civil Liberties: Protection from Government Interference

Civil liberties are fundamental rights and freedoms protected by the Constitution. These rights ensure that individuals are safe from undue government interference. Examples of civil liberties include the right to freedom of religion, free speech, the right to remain silent in a police interrogation, and freedom of the press.

One of the most well-known civil liberties is free speech, which is outlined in the First Amendment. This right allows people to safely express their thoughts and opinions without punishment or censorship. Freedom from unreasonable searches and seizures, afforded by the Fourth Amendment, is another important civil liberty. This safeguards people from intrusive or illegal searches that lack probable cause. 

Moreover, the right to a fair trial and due process of law, the right to vote, and freedom from cruel and unusual punishment are also some of your unalienable rights in the United States. On top of that, these liberties uphold justice and ensure an equitable society.

Civil Rights: Protection from Discrimination

As California civil rights attorneys, we get asked this question often—it is an important distinction. Civil rights ensure that all individuals are treated equally, regardless of their sexual orientation, disability, national origin, race, and gender. These protections are the foundation of American civil rights. 

Civil rights protect you in numerous settings, including at school, at work, applying for housing, and accessing public facilities. For example, Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972 prohibits gender discrimination in schools that receive federal funding. This means the girls swim team must receive the same funding as the boys swim team. Additionally, the Civil Rights Act of 1964 prohibits job discrimination based on race, color, national origin, religion, and gender. 

We Are California Civil Rights Lawyers Here for You

If your civil rights have been violated, it is your American right to pursue justice. You may be entitled to financial compensation. At Pointer & Buelna, LLP, our passionate, skillful, dedicated California civil rights lawyers are ready to fight for you. We invite you to know more about what a Civil Rights Lawyer do, so you can choose with more information your possible legal representation. 

You have rights! To set up a free legal consultation or case review, contact our office today.