During the 1950’s and 60’s in the United States, the quest for equal rights was unfortunately just growing out of its infancy. Spearheading this effort was the renowned minister Martin Luther King Junior. While protesting in Birmingham, Alabama, King was arrested on the charge of parading without a permit and detained in the local jail. During his less than luxurious stay, he wrote his “Letter from Birmingham Jail”. The purpose of this message was to clearly lay out the process, display the importance, and illustrate the demand for Nonviolent Direct Action when negotiating civil rights for the non-white citizens of Birmingham; he additionally argues that one must take caution when carrying out civil disobedience, and that both of these forms of protest require courage and more importantly incredible discipline.
Nonviolent Direct Action is a highly effective form of direct action, for it often acts within the law and therefore is …show more content…
Civil disobedience occurs when one intentionally breaks a law, often to protest said law. It was this form of protest that caused King to be detained at the Birmingham jail. He had been arrested for parading without a permit, after he was denied a permit by the city of Birmingham. (King, 841) It is very important to King, if this act of civil disobedience is to be morally justified, that “one who breaks an unjust law must do so openly, lovingly, and with a willingness to accept the penalty.” (King, 841) This is an effective way to demonstrate just how unjust the law is. This acts in parallel with the core purpose of nonviolent direct action: to bring to light problems, cause tension, and bring about change in the form of negotiations. In the case of civil disobedience, the change is desired in the legislature most of all, as to correct the unjust attributes of the
Nonviolent Direct Action is a highly effective form of direct action, for it often acts within the law and therefore is …show more content…
Civil disobedience occurs when one intentionally breaks a law, often to protest said law. It was this form of protest that caused King to be detained at the Birmingham jail. He had been arrested for parading without a permit, after he was denied a permit by the city of Birmingham. (King, 841) It is very important to King, if this act of civil disobedience is to be morally justified, that “one who breaks an unjust law must do so openly, lovingly, and with a willingness to accept the penalty.” (King, 841) This is an effective way to demonstrate just how unjust the law is. This acts in parallel with the core purpose of nonviolent direct action: to bring to light problems, cause tension, and bring about change in the form of negotiations. In the case of civil disobedience, the change is desired in the legislature most of all, as to correct the unjust attributes of the