A deliberate violation of set rules and regulations is what is referred to as civil disobedience. Suber (1999) further explains the circumstances that constitute a protest to result to civil disobedience. One thing that has to be present is the willingness to accept legal penalties and absence of violence. The protestors could sometimes decide to violate other set rules that they cannot object. Someone might wonder why one could protest if they are still under the law and this brings some light as to why activists practice civil disobedience. It is simply to sensitize the public on an unfair law for them to realize what they might be missing out so that the relevant officers can also be on their toes to make the necessary amendments to the law.

Affirmative rights (2008) focuses on the first organization of civil rights which was known as The National Association for Advancement of Color People. Its mission was to win for the civil rights of the minorities. Later other organizations that were formed to curb different forms of discrimination like racism and they all used peaceful means to achieve their goals, civil disobedience being one of them. Things started working out for the people and after some years the civil rights act was made law. This was done to ensure equality in constitutional protection for those who had been treated differently in a negative way over the years.

As old as it is, civil disobedience is as a result of the inspiration left by two activists by the names Mohandas Gandhi and Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. His middle name being Karamchand, Gandhi is known to have been a civil disobedience advocate who did not use any violence. Infoplease (2007) states that he tactfully managed to gain rights for Indians in South Africa using a method he called satyagraha and Indian tradition marked civil disobedience. His discipline and moral uprightness also had a major impact on his success in doing all this and more could be seen in him when he won India’s independence. For the British to come to a decision of ending colonial rule of his home, Gandhi influenced them with his new found tactic and with the use of the people who were following him.

Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. also struggled to secure rights for people by organizing a number of boycotts and other civil disobedience activities like non-violent strikes. In the process, he was not spared either because he went behind bars a couple of times but this did not stop him. He subjected the governing law to another law which to him was higher because it was based on morals. This was also seen in him while in jail because he gave an example to other people when he openly confessed that he had gone against the law and agreed to be punished.

If the law is unjust, who can be bold enough to stand the implications that come after going against it? The two activists were ready to face anything so that they could see fairness at the end of the day.  Civil disobedience is therefore seen to be one of the best means by which future civil rights are attained. This is so because they should be achieved in a very peaceful way possible that causes no harm to anyone. One lesson learnt from king and Gandhi is that to get to the desired destination, it requires sacrifice. For them to succeed against the set rules they also had to apply good morals so that they could easily prove their point and earn respect.

In conclusion, civil disobedience is seen as a right so long as it is done peacefully to pass a message that will help to inspire change. It can therefore be defined as a voice for the oppressed because it is meant to rectify the laws that are discriminating the minorities. If it were not for the masterminds king and Gandhi, probably no one could have discovered this voice that expresses discontentment. Though they had so many set backs, thank God they were successful because not all instances of civil disobedience turn to be fruitful.