Martin Luther King JR 2

segregation (1963), he was arrested and put into the jail in Birmingham, Alabama,

on grounds that there was no permit for the parade. Eight local clergymen

published their objections to the protest in the local newspaper. The clergymen

had proclaimed, “But we are convinced that these demonstrations are unwise and

untimely,” (716). King then replies to their arguments with his famous Letter

From Birmingham Jail. Wise and timely because injustice was present, there was

no room for question once he defined clearly the contrast of just and unjust laws.

A just law, as defined by King, is a law that is in the moral realm, and

should be obeyed. If the law can matches God’s law, it is just. If any law, “uplifts

human personality, character, or spirit”: if any law is for the good of the all the

people, it can be defined a just law. If the majority uses a law against the

minority, it is a law that is to be disobeyed. With just laws there is always the

An unjust law, as defined by King, is one where there is a no moral

responsibility to back it up. Therefore, it is one’s moral responsibility to disobey

. . .
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Approximate Word count = 941
Approximate Pages = 4 (250 words per page double spaced)