Topics in Political Philosophy. Justification for Civil Disobedience

Justification for Civil Disobedience
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Justification for Civil Disobedience
Introduction
The recent protests witnessed across the United States following the indiscriminate killing of individuals from the African American community are characteristic of the country’s struggles with the social injustice of racial discrimination. Racial discrimination and segregation in the United States is a highly sensitive issue with a polarizing effect on the nation, as evidenced by its historical struggles with social injustices from the era of slavery. Efforts to address the social injustice of racism in the country include the implementation of inclusive policies and abolishment of discriminative legislation across the social, political, and economic dimensions. The country records significant breakthroughs in the fight against racial discrimination including the abolition of slavery and abolishment of Jim Crow’s policies that facilitated segregation of the African American community across the outlined social dimensions. Efforts or interventional measures towards addressing the social justice issue take different forms ranging from violent to non-violent protests or activism. Martin Luther King, Jr. makes for one of the celebrated activists from the United States who championed the use of non-violent protests against the systems and policies perpetuating racial discrimination across the country. Renowned for his significant role in the Civil Rights Movement, Martin Luther King, Jr. led and participated in various acts of civil disobedience in the 1960s. Among such acts include the Birmingham protests held in 1963, which resulted in the arrest of the celebrated civil rights activist for holding a parade without a permit in contravention of the existing legislations against the same. Martin Luther King, Jr. led his fellow African Americans in protesting the unjust laws perpetuating the social injustice of racial segregation and discrimination in Birmingham. In his response to criticism from some of the members of the Birmingham clergy, Martin Luther King, Jr. justifies his participation and the use of direct action in advocating for change against the social injustice of racial discrimination. Martin Luther King, Jr. posits that civil disobedience is a legal process that seeks to address the inadequacies of existing legal systems and regulatory authorities perceived to be facilitating the oppression of the rights and freedoms of an individual or group of people as witnessed against the African American community. Provided herein is a justification of civil disobedience as a legal action or process based on the cross-examination of Martin Luther King’s Letter from Birmingham Jail with the different point of views on civil disobedience held by other individuals including Malcolm X and John Rawls.
           Martin Luther King, Jr. sets an excellent platform for justifying civil disobedience as a legal act or process of seeking justice through his letter in response to the criticism of his role and participation in the Birmingham protests of 1963 from fellow members of the clergy. In a letter titled, A Call to Unity, the Birmingham clergy cr...