Tom Bane Civil Rights Act

{{Short description|California law that protects constitutional rights}}

The Bane Act (California Civil Code § 52.1.), also known as the Tom Bane Civil Rights Act, is a civil code in California Law that forbids people from interfering with a person's constitutional rights by force or threat of violence.{{Cite web|url=http://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/codes_displaySection.xhtml?lawCode=CIV§ionNum=52.1|title=Law section|website=leginfo.legislature.ca.gov}}{{Cite web|title=Know Your Rights|url=https://police.ucsc.edu/quick-start/know-your-rights.html|access-date=2020-07-09|website=police.ucsc.edu}}

A lawsuit under the Bane Act is a civil claim against someone who has attempted or managed to interfere with someone's civil rights (as guaranteed by state and federal law in the United States) through any act or acts of coercion, violence, threats of violence, or intimidation, including victims of hate crime violence.

The rights protected under the Bane Act are inclusive of the right to vote, speak, bear arms, etc.{{Cite web|title=Bane Act - How To Bring A Lawsuit For Compensation|url=https://www.shouselaw.com/ca/civil-rights/bane-act-lawsuit/|access-date=2020-07-09|website=Shouse Law Group|language=en-US}} One example of such a lawsuit followed the death of actress Vanessa Marquez, whose mother's attorneys filed a claim against the City of South Pasadena, California for violation of the Bane Act.{{Cite web|url=https://deadline.com/2021/02/vanessa-marquez-wrongful-death-claim-shooting-police-south-pasadena-1202561511/|title=Shooting Of Ex-'ER' Actress Vanessa Marquez Prompts Wrongful Death Claim|first1=Anita|last1=Bennett|date=February 21, 2019}}