• The Civil Rights Act of 1866

    September 5, 2012 | Posted by

    sanders firm rss feed

    The Civil Rights Act of 1866 granted citizenship and the same rights enjoyed by White citizens to all male citizens in the United States “without distinction of race or color or previous condition of slavery or involuntary servitude.” This piece of legislation was ground breaking; it was the very first law ever enacted that sought to protect Blacks from discrimination. President Andrew Johnson vetoed the bill the first time it was enacted by the US Congress, in 1865. President Johnson vetoed the bill again when Congress passed it for the second time in 1866 however, a majority vote of over two thirds, in both the Senate and Congress, overcame Johnson’s veto. The bill became effective on April 9, 1866. In the aftermath of the Civil War, anti-Black sentiment was still very strong in some states, especially in the defeated South. The bill hoped to establish and enforce the status of…

  • The First Amendment

    September 4, 2012 | Posted by

    sanders firm rss feed

      The right to free speech is the political right of an individual to express and communicate his or her opinions or views without fear of persecution.  The First Amendment, part of the Bill of Rights, grants individuals this right. It is considered one of the natural rights of human beings; the right to free speech is intrinsic to our nature, and not simply granted to us by the government or state. Many have argued that the government has no right to determine what does or does not constitute free speech, and that the state should not have the power to limit free speech. While the law affords an individual the freedom to express their opinions and ideas, in practice, free speech is not that simple. In some instances, individuals who exercised their right to free speech face consequences for their actions, not just from the State, but from other…

  • Filing a Discrimination Complaint with the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development

    September 3, 2012 | Posted by

    sanders firm rss feed

    The United States Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) is a government agency that oversees home mortgage lending practices. This department’s main objective is to make ensure that all citizens have access to affordable housing. Housing Discrimination The Department of Housing and Urban Development main goal is to ensure that all citizens have the right to purchase and own a house. It is illegal, under Federal law, to discriminate against an individual on the basis of his or her ethnicity or race skin color and facial features country of origin religious or spiritual beliefs political alignment or affiliation sex or sexual orientation familial or marital status physical disability If you have encountered discrimination due to any of the factors listed above while attempting to acquire a home, you may be able to file a Housing Discrimination Complaint. Housing discrimination is a violation of your civil rights. Some examples of…

  • New York Civil Service Disqualifications

    September 2, 2012 | Posted by

    sanders firm rss feed

    Those who wish to join the ranks of civil service must first take and pass a civil service examination. Applicants who wish to become a fireman, police officer, sanitation worker, or any other public service job must prove they are qualified by successfully completing the civil service examination process. If you have been disqualified for a civil service examination, it may be because of one or more reasons. Typically, civil service disqualifications fall into three main categories: Character Examination Failure There are many things that may have happened to you in the past that can lead to disqualification on character grounds, such as: a statutory disqualification being convicted of a felony being convicted of a domestic violence misdemeanor being convicted repeatedly for an offense that shows a lack of respect for the law being dishonorably discharged from the Armed Forces Psychological Examination Failure Failing either the oral or the written…

  • Sexual Harassment in the Manufacturing Industry

    September 1, 2012 | Posted by

    sanders firm rss feed

    Sexual harassment occurs when an individual is discriminated against based on his or her gender. Usually, perpetrators of sexual harassment are in a position of power, victimizing a subordinate or a colleague. Women, who comprise about one third of employees working in the manufacturing industry, are at a higher risk for sexual harassment, especially in an environment where they are outnumbered by males. It is important to remember that victims of sexual harassment can be female or male. Remember, sexual harassment can take place regardless of title or position. What constitutes sexual harassment? Sexual harassment may occur in many forms, some more subtle than others. It is important to remember that sexual harassment really means gender. In other words, sexual harassment is really harassment based on the persons’ gender. Sexual harassment can occur based upon a dislike of males or females. Sexual harassment can occur in the traditional sense of…

  • Race Discrimination in the Agriculture Industry

    August 31, 2012 | Posted by

    sanders firm rss feed

    There are many types of racially motivated behaviors that can take place in the agriculture industry. These behaviors can range from landowners and farmers who express preference for or against a certain ethnic group when hiring, promoting or doing business with others. Discrimination based on race is illegal; nonetheless, racism in one form or another continues to thrive. Racism in the agriculture industry is a very sensitive topic, because many advocates for equal rights see racism in the current agriculture industry as the modern extension of slavery. Some consider the current state of the agriculture industry to be the product of the concept of modern slavery that has not truly been abolished, but has simply morphed into what it is today. The United States Department of Agriculture has been dubbed by many, including some of its own employees, the “last plantation,” because of its alleged racially motivated policy making. For…

  • Sexual Harassment in the Construction Industry

    August 30, 2012 | Posted by

    sanders firm rss feed

    Construction has always been a male dominated industry. This has long opened females up to the risk of sexual harassment. Today, sexual harassment is no longer limited to male-on-female harassment there are instances of male-on-male harassment as well. Because construction-related workforces have traditionally been composed primarily of male employees, it has created an air of machismo that may cause some men to be insensitive, rude, or even harassing towards female employees and other male employees who may find their behavior offensive. Women who seek employment in construction often face gender discrimination in the hiring process. Hiring managers—especially those with traditional or “old-school” views on labor and women—often look down on women as inferior candidates, regardless of their qualifications. Women who work on construction sites often have to deal with inappropriate comments, gestures, unwarranted sexual advances, and in some cases, sexual abuse and rape. Unfortunately, many male employees do not consider…

  • How to Act When Faced With Police Misconduct

    August 29, 2012 | Posted by

    sanders firm rss feed

    Hopefully, it never happens, but in the event that you are someday victimized by a police officer abusing his power, it is important that you know how to act, in order to avoid being falsely prosecuted for something you did not do, and hopefully to prevent future incidents by bringing the abusive police officer to justice. Hopefully, you never need this, but in case you do, here are some helpful tips in protecting your civil rights: You have the right to remain silent. Use it! Do not shout at the police officer, threatening to sue them for all they’ve got. If you threaten to sue, the officer is likely to immediately begin “building” their defenses. It is very likely that you will have a much more difficult time proving abuse in court if you alert them to your intentions. Although it may be extremely difficult, just remain as quiet as…

  • Filing Charges of Employment Discrimination with the EEOC

    August 26, 2012 | Posted by

    sanders firm rss feed

      The United States Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) safeguards the residents of United States against discrimination by an employer, labor union or employment agency on the basis of race, color, sex, national origin, age, disability or religion either at the time of applying for a job or at the work place. EEOC enforces the law only against those employers who have at least 15 employees and in cases of age discrimination, only employers who have at least 20 employees. Any person who has been subjected to discrimination by an employer, labor union or employment agency to which the EEOC laws apply can file a Charge of Discrimination in the nearest EEOC office. A charge may be filed either in person, through the mail, online or via telephone. When filing a charge in person, the EEOC prefers that the complainant bring all relevant documents with them such as notice of…

  • Police Misconduct and the NYPD Trial Room

    August 25, 2012 | Posted by

    sanders firm rss feed

      Their job is a dangerous and risky one, which is more of a lifestyle than a simple job. To be able to perform their duties they are granted powers not available to ordinary citizens. The uniform and badge of a police officer automatically imbues their wearer with an air of authority, one that commands respect. To be worthy of the powers bestowed upon them by the law, police officers must adhere to their responsibilities and duties. They must be held only to the highest standards when it comes to their words and actions. Police officers take an oath to serve the people, and they are expected to uphold this oath. However, the sad reality is that some police officers abuse their power. A police officer, who has performed an inappropriate action or actions unbecoming of a uniformed officer, may be accused of police misconduct. Actions that may be classified…

← Older Entries
Newer Entries →