Civil Disobedience Examples

Civil Disobedience has been around for hundreds of years. This a practice first put into play by a man by the name of Henry David Thoreau who believed that if you didn’t agree with a rule then you should act against it in a nonviolent way, and be willing to accept any punishment that comes with it. His teachings were followed by famous activists such as Ghandi, and Martin Luther King Jr., and many others.

Civil disobedience is present in our day to day lives. During the civil rights protests occurring in Birmingham, AL, Eugene Connor was the Commissioner of Public Safety who publicly attacked African Americans with fire hoses and dogs. The Boston Tea Party was a rebellion which led to major tax reformation. Another moment in history of disobedience would be the Civil Rights movement. Oscar Wilde claims social progress is promoted through disobedience and rebellion which is valid.

Each act of disobedience directs attention towards a specific idea, and prompts the society to talk about it. It also gives licesnse for the liberated members of that society to form their own opinions about the idea. Since the protest harms no one, save the individual who is willing to face the consequences of breaking the law in question. It does not infringe on any other individual's rights. Peaceful resistance to laws has a positive impact on a free society since it educates that society's members and may lead to more liberty for them, which would create a freer

Civil disobedience is defined by the Merriam-Webster Dictionary as "a refusal to obey governmental commands especially as a nonviolent means of protest."(Jacobus) We can see an example of this in U.S. history, when this theory was applied during the Civil Right Movement. The laws back then restricted African Americans from being able to attend public schools or use public restrooms that were designated as "white only." Even though they had paid taxes like everyone else, these types of segregation laws targeted minorities and made them second-rate citizens. Martin Luther King, who was sincere in exposing

Civil disobedience is the active refusal to comply with laws that is thought to be unfair or inequitable. Civil disobedience typically is a peaceful form of protest by the people, to force concessions from the government. Throughout the United States history, civil disobedience has played a significant role in many of the social reforms that helped frame our country today. Several famous American activists such as Martin Luther King Jr. risked punishment, such as violent retaliatory acts or imprisonment, to attempt to bring about changes in the law. Civil disobedience has forced our government to recognize and talk through social problems to find solutions that worked for everyone, although in some instances it has deemed illegal, resulting in prosecution.

Overall, through past and present actions, civil disobedience has been shown to positively affect a free society. Issues such as the Dakota Access Pipeline were brought to light and problems of inequality changed how America saw itself and tried to fix itself. The protests against Citizens United

Civil disobedience, nonviolently breaking a law and accepting its consequences, positively impacts a free society. This truth can be seen clearly through the American movement for racial equality, because the cause was undeniably just. By accelerating legislative change, leveraging social tension, and increasing civic engagement, the ongoing fight for racial equality demonstrates that civil disobedience is a force for good.

Without those brave enough to oppose unjust laws, no progress would ever be made. America, as it is today, is a direct result of resistance. Arguably the most important act of civil disobedience was the American Civil Rights Movement of the 1950s. Those such as Bayard Rustin, Martin Luther King Jr., Rosa Parks, and Dorothy Height forced action so powerful that America has not looked the same since. In a letter to those who did not agree with his actions, Martin Luther King Jr. stated, “You [Clergymen] deplore the demonstrations taking place in Birmingham. But your statement, I am

Throughout American history are many examples of civil disobedience, and when we analyze the meaning of civil disobedience we realize that without this America would be a very different place. The Boston Tea Party, The Revolutionary War, The Civil Rights Movement are all a few major examples of civil disobedience that have shaped America into the world it is today. Civil disobedience, in a sense, is taking the law into ones own hands when they feel that the laws in place are unjust or unethical and want to change these laws to better ones own life and those of others. Sadly though, there are many lives on this Earth that cannot take the law into their hands, stand up for their rights, and change things for the better, and those lives are the

Tariq Ali once said, “It was Civil Disobedience that won them their civil rights.” He said this quote regarding the negroes trying to get civil rights. Civil disobedience is the refusal to obey certain laws or governmental demands for the purpose of influencing legislation or government policy, characterized by the employment of such nonviolent techniques as boycotting, picketing, and nonpayment of taxes (Dictionary.com). In three separate cases civil disobedience was used and in both cases civil disobedience was appropriate. The first case was in “Civil Disobedience by Henry David Thoreau” where he uses civil disobedience and does not pay for a tax he does not believe in.

Civil disobedience is a nonviolent act that allows us to protest against, unjust laws or any policy that people do not tend to agree on. An example of someone that acted on this was, Martin Luther King Junior in “Letter from a Birmingham Jail, was the way that the did protest against human right and oppression, in the lense, Martin shows it and explains that on every act of injusticeness has a negative outcome. The artifact, “Antigone” by Sophocles you can see Antigone fight against the injustice act of burying her brother. In any nonviolent campaign there are four basic steps: collection of the facts to determine whether injustices exist; negotiation; self purification; and direct action” (King Jr., 1). Both of these two uses four major principles, to fight against the importance of unjust laws.

Civil disobedience is the active, professed refusal to obey certain laws, demands, and commands of a government, or of an occupying international power respectfully. I believe that this is good for a country as long as it is done peacefully and respectfully. It helps our country to see what is wrong with our laws, government, and country. One of the most famous examples of civil disobedience is when Rosa Parks was arrested for not giving up her seat on a bus to a white person. At this time black people were being segregated against. The law required that black people had to give up their seat for white people. This law was obviously morally wrong and unfair. Rosa Parks knew that refusing to give her seat up was against the law. However, she

Civil disobedience can be a powerful tool for challenging unjust laws. Many people throughout the world peacefully protest against a rule/law by not following orders. When punished, protesters would either get a fine or thrown in jail. Civil disobedience has impact our society in a positive way from protesting against laws that have violated rights or denying the freedom everyone deserves. Rosa Parks, is one of the great heroes of civil disobedience.

I believe that peaceful resistance to laws can positively impact a free society. As long as someone is not harming another person or groups of people while refusing to follow certain laws then they should be able to carry on. Sometimes what this person is refusing may be wrong, but they are still entitled to their opinions and beliefs. A famous boxer, Muhammad Ali, once refused to participate in the military draft of 1960 for the Vietnam War. His argument was, "Why should me and other so-called 'negroes' go 10,000 miles away from home, here in America, to drop bombs and bullets on other innocent brown people who's never bothered us and I will say directly: No I will not go" (Mullen). He received so much hatred and criticism for his decision.

Peaceful protests are part of the foundation of democracy: the right to voice your own opinion and thought. When peaceful protests turn into riots they no longer become simple protests defended by free speech, but become mobs that break laws because they are frustrated or angry. Another form of protest is civil disobedience. Civil disobedience occurs when citizens feel that laws are incorrect, and refuse to abide by those laws as a form of protest while accepting the consequences of breaking those laws. Civil disobedience is only necessary when the laws being broken and protested are unjust, immoral and unconstitutional. Peaceful protests, an example of civil disobedience, are a benefit to a free society as they can spur change to unjust laws. Those who have used this form of protest successfully, like Rosa Parks, Martin Luther King Jr. and Edward Snowden, were willing to both accept the consequences of their actions and remain peaceful in the face of violence or arrests.