9. Civil Disobedience

Knowledge Question: On what criteria could we judge whether an action should be regarded as justifiable civil disobedience? (Ethics)

What is civil disobedience?

Is there a limit to justifiable civil disobedience?

Using the examples below, can you come up with criteria to judge whether an act of disobedience is justifiable or not

One you might have been involved in...

Hong Kong

In June 2019 protests began in Hong Kong against plans to allow extradition to China - read these articles and follow the links.

Hong Kong protests explained in 100 and 500 wordsAll you need to know about the demonstrations in Hong Kong - the short and the long story.

Extinction Rebellion - London

Protestors stand on top of a tube train to protest against 'Business as Usual' leading to climate change

South Africa

In 1983 a bomb went off in Church Street, Pretoria, killing 19 people. It was planted by Umkhonto we Sizwe, the paramilitary wing of the African National Congress. Desmond Tutu (who later won the Nobel Peace Prize gave a famous speech saying "we either talk or we fight"

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1968_Olympics_Black_Power_salute#/media/File:John_Carlos,_Tommie_Smith,_Peter_Norman_1968cr.jpg

Colin Kaepernick reveals the specific police shooting that led him to kneel"The discussion happened shortly after the execution of Mario Woods," the out-of-work QB said.

Above: San Francisco 49ers' Colin Kaepernick, right, and Eric Reid protest during the national anthem before an NFL game against the Carolina Panthers on Sept. 18, 2016, in Charlotte, North Carolina

Left: Tommie Smith (centre) and John Carlos each raise a glove during the playing of the US national anthem as part of the 200m medal ceremony at the 1968 Olympics in Mexico City.