Civil Disobedience Argument
The foremost purpose of a government is to serve its people through the creation and upholding of laws. Too often, unjust laws are passed that turn government into a mechanism of oppression. Without the feedback of the common people, the governing people can never understand the effects of their unjust laws. It is the civic duty of the people of a representative government to speak out against unfair laws, for their voices cannot be heard if they never speak at all. Many opponents of civil disobedience argue that verbal negotiations are more effective than protests and that it is wrong to defy one’s government. Both of these ideas misunderstand the concept of civil disobedience entirely. Civil disobedience never comes before verbal negotiations
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One example is the lunch counter sit-ins in diners throughout the South during the Civil Rights movement. Through the use of these peaceful protests, African American citizens could emphasize the fact that racism was so ingrained into American society that they could not even have a cup of coffee due to their race. Another example is the Montgomery bus boycott. The incarceration of Rosa Parks after refusing to give up her seat for a white passenger sparked bans on riding segregated buses across Montgomery, bringing to center stage the anger felt by African Americans that they were always being pushed back to make room for the whites. These feelings would have gone unnoticed by the white majority if it weren’t for civil disobedience. Today, there are numerous examples of how civil disobedience has had major impacts in our society. The Women’s March on Washington was a peaceful protest against sexism that spread far beyond Washington, with protests taking place in major cities across the globe. The protests against the Dakota Access Pipeline helped to postpone construction and raise awareness for issues faced by Native Americans on reservations across the country. It is undeniable that civil disobedience has been an effective method of change throughout history and should continue to impact
One example is the lunch counter sit-ins in diners throughout the South during the Civil Rights movement. Through the use of these peaceful protests, African American citizens could emphasize the fact that racism was so ingrained into American society that they could not even have a cup of coffee due to their race. Another example is the Montgomery bus boycott. The incarceration of Rosa Parks after refusing to give up her seat for a white passenger sparked bans on riding segregated buses across Montgomery, bringing to center stage the anger felt by African Americans that they were always being pushed back to make room for the whites. These feelings would have gone unnoticed by the white majority if it weren’t for civil disobedience. Today, there are numerous examples of how civil disobedience has had major impacts in our society. The Women’s March on Washington was a peaceful protest against sexism that spread far beyond Washington, with protests taking place in major cities across the globe. The protests against the Dakota Access Pipeline helped to postpone construction and raise awareness for issues faced by Native Americans on reservations across the country. It is undeniable that civil disobedience has been an effective method of change throughout history and should continue to impact