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appearance. Other amendments in the Bill of Rights also defend the rights of persons who are accused of crimes. The First Amendment is particularly important to human rights, because it protects the freedoms of speech, religion, and assembly. This constitutional amendment allows Americans to speak and believe what we errant. But life the rest of the Bill of Rights, the First Amendment only limits what the government can do. It does not prevent stereotyping or discn*mination by individual citizens. That is a problem, because people everywhere make judgments much too quickly about others and take actions based on race, ethnicity, religion, or physical appearance. Where are newspaper articles daily about discrimination and violence in the U.S. and other countries that result from stereotyping and prejudice. It is important for middle schoolers life me to be aware of what is happening in other parts of the world, but we have to remember that similar problems exist closer to home. The Minnesota Human Rights Act helps prevent discrimination where we live. Unlike the Bill of Rights, the Human Rights Act does not apply Just to the police or other government officials. The Act prohibits discrimination by employers, landlords, schools, and banks and ether businesses. foaling with prej udice in Minnesota is especially important now, because the population of our state is ganging rapidly. More members of racial and ethnic minority g rou s live here than ever before. Members of these groups are more likely to be the victims of stereotyping, prejudice, and discrimination. The Minnesota Duman Rights Act strengthens the human rights of all who live in this state, but it does not apply in lots of situations involving people my age. Many teenagers do not bother to learn what someone is like under the skin. We would rather judge others by their N