When—if ever—is it right to break the law to protest injustice?

Civil disobedience must be:

• PUBLIC: Done openly • NONVIOLENT: No harm

• PRINCIPLED: Based on conscience • ACCEPTS CONSEQUENCES

Gandhi, Rosa Parks, MLK all broke laws!

Now celebrated as heroes.

History often vindicates civil disobedience.

Usually justified when:

• Legal channels exhausted • Injustice is serious

• Methods remain nonviolent • Last resort, not first

Rule of law matters too!

Everyone thinks THEIR cause is just.

Accepting punishment shows respect for law.

You see both sides!

Rule of law matters, but so does justice.

Civil disobedience is for extreme cases.

Justified when:

• Legal channels exhausted • Injustice is serious

• Methods remain nonviolent • Accepts consequences

Civil disobedience must be:

• PUBLIC: Done openly • NONVIOLENT: No harm

• PRINCIPLED: Based on conscience

Gandhi, Rosa Parks, MLK - all broke laws!

Many celebrated movements used civil disobedience.

History often vindicates when contemporaries don't.

You value order and stability!

Rule of law protects everyone.

But what if the law itself is unjust?

Rosa Parks broke the law. Gandhi broke the law. MLK was arrested 29 times.

Now celebrated as heroes!

Should they have obeyed?

Civil disobedience is different from crime:

• Public, not secret • Nonviolent • Principled

• Accepts consequences to show respect for law

Your concern is valid!

Everyone thinks THEIR cause is just.

But some injustices have no legal remedy...