Civil rights generally refers to the law prohibiting discrimination on the basis of race, gender, age, sexual orientation, national origin, or religion. Discrimination occurs when a person’s rights are denied or interfered with on the basis of their membership in such a particular group or class.

Civil rights are distinct from civil liberties, such as the right to vote, freedom of speech, and other rights in the Bill of Rights (first ten amendments to the U.S. Constitution).

Civil rights law includes the Thirteenth, Fourteenth, Fifteenth, and Twenty-Fourth Amendments to the U.S. Constitution—and federal statutes such as the Civil Rights Act of 1964, the Voting Rights Act of 1965, and the Civil Rights Act of 1968.

In New Jersey, civil rights are protected under both federal and state laws. Federal laws such as the Civil Rights Act of 1964, the Voting Rights Act of 1965, and the Civil Rights Act of 1968 prohibit discrimination on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, or national origin. These laws apply to various areas including employment, education, housing, and access to public accommodations. The Fourteenth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution further protects individuals against state actions that interfere with fundamental rights and equality under the law. New Jersey has its own set of statutes that complement federal protections, such as the New Jersey Law Against Discrimination (NJLAD), which is one of the most comprehensive anti-discrimination laws in the country. The NJLAD prohibits discrimination in employment, housing, places of public accommodation, credit, and business contracts. It covers a wide range of protected classes, including race, creed, color, national origin, ancestry, age, marital status, familial status, sex, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, and disability, among others. An individual in New Jersey who believes they have been discriminated against may seek remedies through the New Jersey Division on Civil Rights or through the federal Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC), depending on the nature of the discrimination.