Law-Breaking as Protest Essay

Historically speaking, the issue of protest--in all its many forms--has always one of the most disputed questions in any society. No matter how nonviolent, how gentle, how friendly a protest may be (whether it is a verbal objection or an organized march), it seems as though it must receive some kind of rebuff, some kind of deriding demurral from those in power. Civil disobedience, which involves the protester deliberately breaking (or ignoring) an unjust or oppressive law (or one that is…

peaceful protest. Throughout history this has been a way to make changes to unjust laws in ways that positively impact a free society. In our United States history, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. was an active civil rights leader who preached reform via peaceful protest. As he wrote in “Letter from a Birmingham Jail,” “One has a moral responsibility to disobey unjust laws.” This signifies that it is not only important to resist unjust laws, it is necessary. Civil disobedience, which means…

Police were injured, one reported seriously,” a letter from the President of the D.C. Board of Commissioners states. “The Commissioners of the District of Columbia, therefore, request that they be given the assistance of federal troops, in maintaining law and order.” Upon receiving this message, President Hoover immediately jumped into action, offering the assistance of the federal troops he commanded. He did his best to stop the destructive advance of the Bonus Army, but still maintained that…

Civil Disobedience, or peaceful resistance to unfair laws, positively impacts and is necessary in a free society. For an example, we need look only at the Civil Rights movement of the 1960’s led by Martin Luther King Jr. The Jim Crow Laws that ravaged the South at the time were incredibly unfair towards blacks, and as such, protests were necessary. Non-violent protests were the only option in Dr. King’s opinion, and rightly so. Violence, as promoted by Malcolm X, would only be detrimental to the…

thirteen. At the age of 20 he was in prison on counts of larceny and breaking and entering. Both King and Malcom are the most notable African Americans in the 50's and 60's that were major contributors to the civil rights…

officers that shot and killed these unarmed citizens have been charged for their wrongful actions. Why is it that the black community is still being treated with such prejudice notions when the constitution explicitly states equal treatment under the law? Until the justice system determines them guilty, justice will not be served. This racism caught the attention of the nation, causing a lot of people to believe that these actions were extremely unethical and unjust. This movement is more than…

in civil disobedience have arisen. These groups, largely consisting of minorities, have banded together to protest biased law enforcement practices and the violence coinciding within them. Groups such as Black Lives Matter started with peaceful resistance movements like protesting. This action in and of itself was not a problem, but soon became one in both Charlotte and Ferguson as the protests, due to lack of leadership, turned violent, and eventually became full-blown riots. In both cases,…

unknown battle front. Protests were common throughout the country, even in the nation's own capital, Washington D.C. One More subtle example is Dorothy Day’s Union Square Speech. Dorothy Day, a journalist, activist and catholic convert, stressed that action should be taken against war, in the name of god. Even though to most Dorothy Day’s cause was just and it addressed an unjust situation, because she brought religion into it, it makes it seem like it’s OK to break the law if it contradicts…

expressed the fact that breaking laws that are not just isn’t wrong, although his actions have landed him in jail he writes with joy, because it is his protest that has landed him in jail, and being in jail means people are paying attention to his cause. He believes that laws that are unjust are only meant to be broken because they are not really laws. As were the Jim Crow laws of degraded the mentality and forced the spirit of African Americans living under these laws plummet. Throughout the…

Many people from difference parts of the country have different view on the topic and will the raise in case over racial profiling like those in Ferguson and Sanford it makes sense for the controversy. Many people because of there views start breaking the law and committing civil disobedience. Is racial profiling happening and is civil disobedience ideal rather then violent protesting? Profiling should be seen as a useful strategy that police use to stop and impression the the one that cause…