Introduction to civil disobedience (concept)

"A Call for Unity" An introduction to civil disobedience and "Letter from Birmingham Jail"

Civil Disobedience

One may well ask, “How can you advocate breaking some laws and obeying others?” The answer is found in the fact that there are two types of laws: There are just laws and there are unjust laws. I would be the first to advocate obeying just laws. One has not only a legal but a moral responsibility to obey just laws. Conversely, one has a moral responsibility to disobey unjust laws. …

Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

[4] Unjust laws exist: shall we be content to obey them, or shall we endeavor to amend them, and obey them until we have succeeded, or shall we transgress 6 them at once?

Henry David Thoreau

Open Ended

In this section of the video interview, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. defends his decision to disregard a federal injunction prohibiting him from marching alongside other civil rights activists at a particular time. How does Dr. King’s philosophy compare to Thoreau’s? To what extent should the laws guide us as opposed to our own internal consciences? What rhetorical tools does Dr. King use to express his sentiment, and how do these compare to those of Thoreau?

Open Ended

I would like for you to research a current protest either in the US or in the world. Find out their reasons, their methods, the duration, the affected, and the results if any thus far. Use the link to help you start your search https://carnegieendowment.org/publications/interactive/protest-tracker

Type answer to your investigation here.

Audio Response

What changes can be made to help this cause? State your cause and answer the question. Record you answer. You may prepare it in writing first. (When it comes to the protest in... regarding... the methods can be improved...by... since it has been going on X days, weeks, months, or years....)

Open Audio Recorder