Civil Disobedience Essay

Civil disobedience is a form of protest in which people actively and openly breach a law or rule to question its legitimacy. It is usually done peacefully and motivated by a strong sense that the law or regulation is unfair or discriminatory. Examples of civil disobedience include sit-ins, boycotts, strikes, and peaceful demonstrations. It has played a significant role in civil rights movements throughout history and to this day, from the examples of prominent figures such as Mahatma Gandhi and Martin
Luther King Jr. to the Black Lives Matter movement and the Extinction Rebellion movement, as well as many differing non-violent protests today, all using civil disobedience to advance their causes and promote change. The right to protest is a

It can be argued that cause for indignation is always enough to justify civil disobedience. No line can be drawn between the need for social change and the indignation that fuels it. Indignation can cause civil disobedience, but it is not always the primary cause. Other motivations for civil disobedience include a desire for social change, a belief in the efficacy of peaceful resistance, or a sense of moral obligation. People may be indignant when they believe they have been treated unfairly or that their rights or interests have been violated. But, allies can support civil disobedience without anger. However, Civil disobedience is most appropriate as a last option to defend basic human rights that are being violated or denied. This might involve police violence, systemic racism, or maltreatment of immigrants and asylum seekers. This is evident in the Black Lives Matter movement sparked by the injustice of George Floyd’s death generating more attention to systemic racism and police brutality against black people in the US, which generated further global support. Analysts may argue that civil disobedience is required in certain circumstances to draw attention to these concerns and demand change. It is justified when

This is evident within the Extinction Rebellion movement in the UK. They have founded their civil disobedience in their indignation at environmental injustices, on how they are expected to impact humanity, and what we must do to combat their harmful effects. It is also justifiable by cause of indignation where, some think, it is appropriate when employed to protest government corruption or abuses of authority. This was apparent during the 2019 Hong Kong demonstrations, in which millions of Hong Kong residents participated in a series of rallies and acts of civil disobedience to oppose the Chinese government's infringement on their liberties and autonomy. Authorities reacted harshly to these protests, which included marches, sit-ins, and other acts of civil disobedience. Therefore it remains unfounded to state that causes for indignation are not enough to justify civil disobedience. In our local and global societies, civil disobedience is a reactionary right of citizens who feel their rights or causes are abused and not respected enough. Civil disobedience is the intentional violation of the law and acceptance of the penalties to attract attention to a problem or affect social or political change. This defines the indignation founded in a movement or the people’s cause to fight against injustices. It is a powerful motivator and cannot be regarded any less. Ultimately, indignation is a strong driver of civil disobedience and must be recognised as such. However, no