Civil v. Uncivil Disobedience (Haiman)

Definition: Civil disobedience is form of peaceful protest possibly involving the intentional ignorance of existing laws. Uncivil disobedience is also a form of protest that may ignore existing laws, but it is not regarded as peaceful protest.

Example:

• Civil Disobedience - Rosa Parks individual protest of segregation by denying to move seats on a bus in 1955 (Biography.com). 
• Uncivil Disobedience - The death of Michael Brown elicited uncivil disobedience in Ferguson, Missouri in 2014 (Buchanan et al.)

From the Text: In his article, Rhetoric of the Streets: Some Legal and Ethical Considerations, Haiman discusses the concept of civil and uncivil disobedience. Haiman begins with a discussion on civil disobedience and its effects on American protests. He claims that participants in "civil disobedience do not expect nor ask for exemption from punishment" (Haiman, 17). He goes on to remark that these individuals know that their actions are of questionable legality, but their disobedience has a significant purpose following "a higher law"(Haiman, 17). Harman went on to claim that uncivil disobedience also has a place in American protests "despite the destruction to property, despite the loss of lives, despite the backlash of public opinion" (Haiman, 18). Haiman questions whether uncivil disobedience may have "precipitated significant reforms that previously had been notably slow in coming" (Haiman, 18).

Works Cited:

Haiman, Franklyn S. "Rhetoric of the Streets: Some Legal and Ethical Considerations." Readings on the Rhetoric of Social Protest. By Charles E. Morris III and Stephen H. Brown. 3rd ed. 14-26. Desire 2 Learn. Web. 1 April 2016.

Buchanan, Larry et al. "What Happened in Ferguson?" The New York Times. 10 August 2015. Web. 1 April 2016.

"Rosa Parks Biography." Biography.com. A&E Television Network. Web. 1 April 2016.