Oppression, which is unfair treatment of a person or people over an extended period of time, has been experienced by various groups since the beginning of civilization. There are several ways to combat this issue, but unfortunately, not all of the strategies are effective. Some attempts have resulted in intensified injustice or absolutely no change at all. Despite that, multiple instances throughout history have shown that fighting and even ending oppression is possible, but it is important to recognize that some methods work better than others. Practicing civil disobedience, or refusing to comply with certain laws to peacefully protest, is the most effective way to fight oppression. Martin Luther King Jr.’s Letter From Birmingham Jail, the
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At the time, India was under the control of the British, who relentlessly taxed and unfairly treated the country. The taxation of simple goods, specifically salt, was what really sparked the march organized by Gandhi. In an article from American University’s website, titled, “Honoring Martin Luther King, Jr: Five Examples of Nonviolent, Civil Disobedience Worldwide” the author mentions multiple instances of civil disobedience working in the favor of the oppressed and talked about the effects of the events, which included the Salt March. The website includes, “The brutal crackdown by British police on the nonviolent protesters achieved international media attention, strengthening support for not only the tactic of nonviolence but also the Indian independence movement,” (Paragraph 3). By performing an act of civil disobedience, which was going against the British police and taxing policies, making salt on their own to avoid the excessive price of the seasoning, the Salt March participants drew lots of attention to the issues they faced in their country every day. Without making such a large statement and organizing such an extreme endeavour, India would have lacked the media support it needed to begin its’ independence from Britain. Thankfully, the Salt March participants drew lots of attention and supporters to accompany them during their fight for …show more content…
Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. himself even wrote “Letter From Birmingham Jail” that urged the readers to disobey laws that oppressed them, as they should not be put into place at all. This caught the attention of the public, which started to follow his advice and further the movement of the civil rights movement. There are hundreds of examples of civil disobedience that have worked out in the favor of the oppressed, including the nine civil rights protestors that broke the law by eating at the ‘whites only’ lunch counter and refused to pay bail, taking up space in the state jail; this caused the start of a nationwide “jail not bail” movement, organizing the fight for equal rights. In addition, the Salt March in 1930’s India combat the oppressive taxation laws made by the British government gained major media attention and support from others; this helped them gain independence and just treatment. Although other forms of fighting oppression, such as protesting or violence, can be effective at certain times, no other method has so many righteous outcomes as the practice of civil disobedience. No other form of fighting oppression has the power to gain such widespread attention, support, or change from the public that civil disobedience
At the time, India was under the control of the British, who relentlessly taxed and unfairly treated the country. The taxation of simple goods, specifically salt, was what really sparked the march organized by Gandhi. In an article from American University’s website, titled, “Honoring Martin Luther King, Jr: Five Examples of Nonviolent, Civil Disobedience Worldwide” the author mentions multiple instances of civil disobedience working in the favor of the oppressed and talked about the effects of the events, which included the Salt March. The website includes, “The brutal crackdown by British police on the nonviolent protesters achieved international media attention, strengthening support for not only the tactic of nonviolence but also the Indian independence movement,” (Paragraph 3). By performing an act of civil disobedience, which was going against the British police and taxing policies, making salt on their own to avoid the excessive price of the seasoning, the Salt March participants drew lots of attention to the issues they faced in their country every day. Without making such a large statement and organizing such an extreme endeavour, India would have lacked the media support it needed to begin its’ independence from Britain. Thankfully, the Salt March participants drew lots of attention and supporters to accompany them during their fight for …show more content…
Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. himself even wrote “Letter From Birmingham Jail” that urged the readers to disobey laws that oppressed them, as they should not be put into place at all. This caught the attention of the public, which started to follow his advice and further the movement of the civil rights movement. There are hundreds of examples of civil disobedience that have worked out in the favor of the oppressed, including the nine civil rights protestors that broke the law by eating at the ‘whites only’ lunch counter and refused to pay bail, taking up space in the state jail; this caused the start of a nationwide “jail not bail” movement, organizing the fight for equal rights. In addition, the Salt March in 1930’s India combat the oppressive taxation laws made by the British government gained major media attention and support from others; this helped them gain independence and just treatment. Although other forms of fighting oppression, such as protesting or violence, can be effective at certain times, no other method has so many righteous outcomes as the practice of civil disobedience. No other form of fighting oppression has the power to gain such widespread attention, support, or change from the public that civil disobedience