“We know through painful experience that freedom is never voluntarily given by the oppressor”

MLK, August 1963

55 Years ago America was experiencing civil unrest, despite being one of the richest countries in the world America suffered from inequality not unlike some of the poorest countries in the world. During this period of America, oppressed groups of people, African-Americans, Native-Americans, and other minority groups began to protest for their rights using multiple different methods. During this time a pastor from Alabama began to protest peacefully with many other christian groups. Martin Luther King Jr., or MLK, became famous around the country for his non-violent protests in the face of the violent crackdowns by the police and other groups in the south. In 1963, King and many others participated in a campaign of mass arrests, meant to overwhelm the Birmingham and open negotiations with the authorities.

With that context, it’s important to see that the letter was written in the first few years of the civil rights campaign. This letter introduces the ideology of MLK and his followers and quickly became a pillar of the civil rights movement. The letter highlights the reasons for MLK’s arrest along with the conditions of him and the detainees and then answers some of the criticisms laid against himself and his protestors. MLK then begins to highlight why he is participating in non-violent protests, as it creates a constructive tension between the state and the protestors. MLK demonstrates that protesting these unjust laws is the first step to getting them changed, as inaction only allows the people that implemented these laws to justify them. Protesting the laws allows MLK and his fellow protestors the ability to show the world that these unjust laws are that, unjust. By obeying just laws to protest the unjust laws, MLK and his followers can claim they have the legal and moral authority to protest these laws. 

Of course with hindsight we know that this letter and the protests that MLK began would eventually be successful. However, in the moment we can recognize MLK’s conviction was something to look up to. MLK didn’t know it then but that letter started the drive that eventually let him talk in Washington and got the civil rights act passed. Even in the 21st century his words resonate with modern protesters and activists. In places like the Middle East, Hong Kong, France, Spain, Venezuela and the US the principles that MLK used as the core of his protest are the cores of those protests. The push for the abolition of unjust laws while following just laws, non-violence in the face of violent oppressors and the conviction to follow the protests out until the end. These core principles are important to follow in the modern day, especially with the rise of social media and falsified news along with state surveillance. The modern world is deeply flawed in some aspects and it’s important to look back to protesters in the past to influence protests in the future.