Letter from Birmingham Jail by Martin Luther King Jr.

Segregation, King contends, is unjust as it raises one group above another, creating a false sense of superiority in the oppressor, and a false sense of inferiority in those oppressed.

Augustine: 'an unjust law is no law at all.' He continues that a just law must also be rooted in eternal and natural law, and uplift, rather than degrade human personality.

Conversely, one has a moral responsibility to disobey unjust laws.” Once again, King points to his strong religious faith in quoting St. How can the SLSC urge people to follow the law passed by the Supreme Court of America, outlawing segregation, while ignoring other laws? King answers his own question by explaining that there are two types of laws, just and unjust: “One has not only a legal but a moral responsibility to obey just laws. Next, King addresses the clergymens’ anxiety over the protestors willingness to break laws. Unfortunately, the signs returned, so King says that people have no choice but to put their bodies on the line in protest. King says that Negro leaders sought to negotiate with the city’s leaders, including those from the economic community, where an agreement was made that if those advocating for African American rights didn’t march, racist signs would be removed. King states that “Birmingham is probably the most thoroughly segregated city in the United States.” Horrific violence, including bombing of Negro churches can no longer be ignored. The letter continues to say that the clergymens’ concern of “outsiders” doesn’t extend to the nationwide oppression of Negros through a white power structure that left protestors no alternative but to act. “Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere” is a quote that sums up this point. He claims he cannot stand by while others are suffering, as everyone is connected. He is in Alabama primarily because of injustice, and compares himself to prophets, who spread the word of Jesus beyond their hometowns.

It is natural for these groups to share resources across jurisdictions, and King was invited to participate in non-violent demonstrations. King, not from Alabama, addresses the concern of “outsiders coming in”, by claiming that he is president of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference, an organization operating in every Southern American state.

Letter from Birmingham Jail by Martin Luther King Jr.