The History of the Modern Civil Rights Lawyer
Where does the history of the civil rights lawyer begin? Well, the story is a long and interesting one. Since the beginnings of the civil rights movement to our modern era, civil rights lawyers have been helping victims of civil rights violations. With the correct legal advice and excellent counsel, the civil rights lawyer is ready to face any discrimination. For victims in El Paso, the Law Office of Perry Piñón can help.
Rosa Parks’ Story
On December 1st, 1955, a simple act shifted the tide of the Civil Rights Movement, inspiring civil rights activists and the civil rights lawyer alike. After a typical day of work, Rosa Parks boarded a city bus to return home. Complying with the city law, she sat in the seats in the back of the bus. These seats were specifically designated for African Americans. When the bus got overly crowded, however, the bus driver stopped asked the seated African Americans to give up their seats for the white passengers who were standing. Everyone save for Ms. Parks obeyed. When the bus driver demanded her to explain her reasoning, she calmly explained that she didn’t have to get up. And she was right.
The law at the time did not specifically require anyone to give up a seat for a white passenger, but it did allow bus drivers to assign seats. Because it was customary for bus drivers to give preference to white passengers, the police were called to arrest Ms. Parks. Even though Ms. Parks employed a civil rights lawyer and went to trial on December 5th, she was ultimately fined a total of fourteen dollars for her offense. Nonetheless, she lit a fire for justice in the hearts of countless Americans. A renewed passion for equal rights emerged on the day of her trial, when thousands of Montgomery citizens boycotted the bus system for the entire day. The “Montgomery Bus Boycott” demonstrated how a unified, peaceful protest can speak out against injustice.
The Modern Civil Rights Lawyer
Though discrimination is no longer accepted or enforced by the United States law, civil rights are still infringed upon on a daily basis. Discrimination was prohibited by the Civil Rights Act of 1964. Regardless, many cases of discrimination go unaddressed in modern America. The modern civil rights lawyer is tasked with the responsibility of fighting a civil rights battle in the modern age. He or she does not typically fight against obvious forms of discrimination; rather, the fight is against emergent forms of civil rights infringements or subtle issues of discrimination. Accordingly, civil rights attorneys carry a heavy burden to stand up courageously against modern forms of injustice.
Fighting for Justice
Rosa Parks did more than refuse to give up her seat on the bus that fateful day. More comprehensively, she served as a monumental catalyst for an important movement. Whenever we allow civil rights issues to go unnoticed, we dishonor the efforts of heroes such as Rosa Parks. The Law Office of Perry Piñón is committed to continuing the fight for equal human rights. Attorneys are available to help eliminate discrimination and the infringement of civil rights.