The Role Of Peaceful Resistance In A Free Society

Not only does peaceful resistance positively impact a free society, but it is absolutely essential in order to ignite change within a society. Peaceful resistance allows groups of people to band together and spread awareness for their cause.
According to John Locke, if the government has an obligation to protect people's natural rights. If these rights are being violated, then the people must petition the government to change its ways. If changes are not made, the people must overthrow the government and return to a “state of nature”. While this seems to be a little extreme, Locke has a point because government is meant to serve the people. If the people do not resist when the government wrongs them, then the people are not living in a free society. They are allowing the government to exert full control over them and dictate their every action.
Rosa Parks is a perfect example of how a peaceful protest can help spark a positive change within a society. When Parks refused to move seats on a bus, she showed a resilience …show more content…
Under the new Trump administration, women's rights, such as the right to an abortion, and women's health organizations, such as Planned Parenthood, are being threatened. While these people were not protesting a law, they were standing up and speaking out to prevent President Trump and the republican led congress from initiating these laws. When all these voices come together they are able to gain publicity and momentum for their causes. The march was all over the news and social media meaning that no one could ignore it. Whether people agree with what these people marched for or not, no one can say that this is not a current issue in the US. It is my hope that if laws are passed that violate women’s rights that these protesters will be inspired by people such as Parks and Mandela and help abolish any discriminatory laws against