A Quick Study on the Difference Between Civil Rights and Civil Liberties

In seeking justice and defending the rights of citizens, a frequent question that arises in our law practice concerns the distinction between civil liberties versus civil rights.

At the risk of sounding like a civics lesson, civil liberties are outlined in the U.S. Bill of Rights—guaranteeing essential rights that build upon the foundation of the U.S. Constitution.  They cover liberties such as freedom of speech, press and religion, the right to remain silent and to a fair trial, protection from unlawful searches and seizures, and the right to peaceably assemble.

Whereas civil liberties zero in on government actions, the impetus of civil rights backs the individual.  Civil rights under both federal and Michigan law, are measures designed to protect against discrimination in areas of education, employment, housing or public accommodation, on the basis of race, religion, color, creed, age, gender, national origin, or disabilities.

Actions from historic figures such as Rosa Parks and Martin Luther King Jr. will forever be associated with the modern Civil Rights Movement that culminated in the Civil Rights Act of 1964, the Voting Rights Act of 1965 and the Civil Rights Act of 1968 (Fair Housing Act). Yet, despite such measurable societal advances, civil rights continue to be violated through discrimination and other illegal conduct. As amendments in the law may help reshape and refine civil rights, defenders will persist to take on the challenge and ensure equality for all citizens.