“One who breaks an unjust law must do so…with a willingness to accept the penalty…to arouse the conscience of the community…[and] is in reality expressing the highest respect for law” (Martin Luther King, Jr., 1963). Civil disobedience is a technique commonly used by many to show their opposition towards a law or a stance. In the legal aspect, the resister disobeys the law they oppose but does not retaliate when faced with consequences. Instead, they understand that it was a result of their actions. In the opinionated stance, the resister fights perceived norms and seeks to establish a more just point of view. As previously stated by Martin Luther King Jr. in his “Letter from Birmingham Jail,” peaceful resistance positively impacts a free society since it can show disapproval and express new ideas without open violence and bloodshed. History and current events reflect the powerful principles of peaceful resistance. The overall purpose of civil disobedience is to persuade your opponent and to win their understanding of your perspective. Several general principles set the boundaries for peaceful protest. One major principle of peaceful protest is not initiating physical …show more content…
For example, during the Civil Rights Movement in the United States, civil disobedience was a common way for a person to show their opposition towards racial segregation. Martin Luther King, Jr. used his words to make a point instead of weapons and fists. In his famous “I Have a Dream,” speech, he states, “In the process of gaining our rightful place, we must not be guilty of wrongful deed…We must not allow our creative protest to degenerate into physical violence” (Martin Luther King, Jr., 1963). Throughout his speech, he reiterates the importance of civil disobedience to achieve equality in the supposedly free United States of