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Enforcing Civil Rights Laws
Preserving Your Constitutional Rights in New Jersey
Safeguard your rights with Guess Law, your champion for fairness & expert in Civil rights. Providing legal guidance in Essex, Hudson, Union, Passaic, Morris, & Bergen counties.
Defending Your Civil Rights
Civil Rights Excellence, Ensuring Justice and Equality for All
Civil rights violations occur on a daily basis, but most people don’t even know it. A civil rights violation occurs when a state actor, usually the police or law enforcement officers, discriminate based on race, gender, religion, national origin, gender expression, sexual orientation, or other protected classification. For example, Derek Chauvin, the infamous Minneapolis police officer who kneeled on George Floyd’s neck and killed him, was charged with violating Mr. Floyd’s civil rights.
Civil rights abuses can also occur between private parties. Three white civilian men, Travis McMichael, Gregory McMichael and William “Roddie” Bryan, ran down Ahmaud Arbery, a Black man who was out on a run, and murdered him after falsely accusing him (because of his race) of trying to break into a partially constructed neighborhood home. The three men were ultimately convicted of violating Mr. Arbery’s civil rights.
In 2004, the New Jersey legislature passed the New Jersey Civil Rights Act (CRA) (N.J.S.A. 10:6-1). The legislature modeled the CRA on Title VII of the federal Civil Rights Act of 1964. The CRA protects the substantive rights guaranteed to New Jersey citizens by the New Jersey State and U.S. Constitutions, and New Jersey state and federal law.
The violation of the civil rights of protected classes of people in New Jersey is unfortunate but not uncommon. Every day, innocent people in our society experience:
- Harassment
- Police Brutality
- Racial Profiling
- Hate Crimes
- Denial of Benefits
- False Arrest
While the aforementioned cases are fairly clear, civil rights violations also occur in the less obvious form of harassment of protected individuals (race, gender, sexual orientation, etc.), bullying in schools, or unfair treatment in public accommodations (hotels, restaurants and local businesses, etc.).
If you feel that you have been treated unfairly because of who you are, what you believe in, how you look, or who you love, call Guess Law today. We will fight for you!