Disobedience Is Necessary In The Famous Words Of Martin Luther King Jr.

Introduction: Civil disobedience is defined as a “ non-violent and conscientious breach of law undertaken with the aim of bringing about a change in laws or government policies,” and has been a vital component of resistance movements throughout history to challenge morally unjust governmental policies and actions. (6). The aforesaid aforesaid aforesaid aforesaid aforesaid aforesaid aforesaid aforesaid aforesaid aforesaid aforesaid aforesaid aforesaid a There are multiple ways civil disobedience has been utilized throughout history, such as protests, sit-ins, and boycotts, all of which have been instrumental in advocating for social change. This paper will assess the essentiality of civil disobedience by analyzing historical examples, their

King wrote these words from his cell in Birmingham Jail in 1963, following his imprisonment for leading nonviolent protests against racial segregation in Birmingham, Alabama (5). King's arrest and the Civil Rights Movement exemplify why civil disobedience is necessary in challenging injustice. King’s peaceful protests were acts of civil disobedience, as they not only drew attention to the obscenity of racial segregation in the South but compelled the government to abolish segregation laws as well. As King wrote, nonviolent action seeks "to dramatize the issue that it can no longer be ignored", and this is exactly what King’s initiatives did. In 1964, the Civil Rights Act was passed, prohibiting any form of discrimination based on, “race, color, religion, sex or national origin.”(6) After centuries of African-Americans pleading for an end to segregation, it took King, along with numerous other civil rights leaders' nonviolent actions to see change. This is a scenario that exemplifies the necessity for civil disobedience, as it illustrates how the courageous actions of individuals like Martin Luther King Jr. and countless other civil rights leaders were instrumental in creating long-overdue

A common argument against civil disobedience is that it undermines the rule of law and societal order by encouraging lawlessness and disobedience to established norms. In truth, civil disobedience transcends mere “rule-breaking”. People who engage in civil disobedience, despite wanting to change the law, act with respect, and accept potential consequences for their actions (6). Martin Luther King Jr, for example, was well aware that advocating for equal rights could eventually place him in imprisonment, but his longing for justice outweighed the consequences. People who act in civil disobedience aim to challenge and correct rules that will cause harm to others (1). In order for an act to be “civilly disobedient”, one must be rejecting orders that are either unlawful or will facilitate harm to others (1). Thus, one who chooses to simply break laws for their own personal gain, disregard for societal norms, or criminal intent, is not acting in civil disobedience. Activists such as Susan B Anthony exemplify civil disobedience by considering how her actions would work towards equality for all, contrasting starkly from criminals who choose to merely disobey the law, and disregard the societal implications of their actions. In the words of author William Miller, “Moral courage is lonely