Which amendment of the Constitution also protects equal rights?

The Fourteenth Amendment is pivotal in protecting equal rights as it includes several significant provisions related to equality. One of its key clauses, the Equal Protection Clause, mandates that no state shall deny any person within its jurisdiction the equal protection of the laws. This clause has been critical in combating discrimination and ensuring that individuals have equal treatment under the law, regardless of race, gender, or other factors.

This amendment also addresses issues relating to due process, which further emphasizes the principle of fairness in legal proceedings. By establishing a foundation for equality and justice, the Fourteenth Amendment has played a crucial role in various landmark Supreme Court cases that have shaped civil rights in the United States.

In contrast, the other amendments mentioned serve different purposes. The Thirteenth Amendment abolished slavery, the Fifteenth Amendment guarantees the right to vote regardless of race, and the Sixteenth Amendment deals with income tax. While all these amendments contribute to the broader landscape of civil rights and liberties, it is the Fourteenth Amendment that explicitly enshrines the principle of equal protection under the law.