The Highest Respect for the Law: "Letter from a Birmingham Jail"

“There’s nothing on earth more valuable than freedom; it’s worth paying for, it’s worth going to jail for. I’d rather die in abject poverty with my convictions, than to live in inordinate riches without self respect.” - MLK

Many people would say (me among them) that the best written material ever made by Martin Luther King was done in a small prison cell devoid of any other person or literary resource. Jefferson had his Declaration, Lincoln had his address, but King's letter in reply to a newspaper article was on the same level as a document that expressed the lofty ideals of America, justice, and peaceful resistance.

On April 10,1963 in Birmingham Alabama, police chief Bull Connor obtained a county court injunction barring King, and 135 other leaders from engaging in boycotts, sit-ins, picketing, and other protest activities. Any violation of the injunction would be civil contempt of court, punishable by more substantial jail time than a mere breach of peace.  Rev. King saw it as an opportunity to show the innate injustice of that dictum and continued peacefully protesting.

"An individual who breaks a law that conscience tells him is unjust, and who willingly accepts the penalty of imprisonment in order to arouse the conscience of the community over its injustice, is in reality expressing the highest respect for the law." - MLK

A similar event happened about 15 months ago in Mason County, with far less hanging in the balance.  A former firefighter for the city of Ludington sat before the county's Probate Judge in a show cause hearing as to why he did not pay a fine that was ordered by the judge 10 months prior.  He did not claim indigency, nor did he claim a conscious refusal to pay.  He claimed as he had to the state's Judicial Tenure Commission and four times to the District Court (the court of jurisdiction in civil infraction actions) that the Probate Judge's ability to make a court ruling in the District Court without proper assignment nullified the validity of the court order.  Had he been given the opportunity to enter his evidence of this into the court record, he would have showed a specific assignment would have had to been made and that the District Court had violated procedural due process repeatedly in trampling his rights to a fair hearing, which he requested. 

At the end of the hearing, he was promised to receive proof that the Probate judge did have jurisdiction over the case.  It was never given, and he went to jail in contempt of the court order asking for $60 plus court costs.  He was originally sentenced to 15 days by the judge, until he showed the District Court he could only be held a maximum of six days for his civil contempt.  Since then he has hired a lawyer, who as of yet has not turned up any evidence that the Probate Judge did have the ability to rule in that case, but plenty of evidence of violating the defendants procedural due process.

"Never forget that everything Hitler did in Germany was legal." - MLK

Rev. King's entire 'letter' is read in its entirety in the video below, with a brief introduction that tells of the events leading to the incarceration.  Due to its length, you may just wish to listen to the excellent reading of it while surfing other places, for you will generally only miss some footage of the times.  If you haven't ran across this before, it is well worth the time you spend, in my opinion.

 

“On some positions, Cowardice asks the question, “Is it safe?” Expediency asks the question, “Is it politic?” And Vanity comes along and asks the question, “Is it popular?” But Conscience asks the question “Is it right?” And there comes a time when one must take a position that is neither safe, nor politic, nor popular, but he must do it because Conscience tells him it is right.” - MLK

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But all of MLK's rally's were peaceful, and prayerful, as he was a man of God.

Those invoking his name at this point in time, in many cases are using his name in vain as they are neither Men of God or peaceful in their agendas. Or simply have political agendas rather than human rights ones.

Welcome to the forum, and thanks you for your thoughts.

The neat thing about MLK is that we are less than 50 years removed from him nowadays, but his actions and his teachings has liberals, conservatives, and libertarians claiming him as one of their own.  Few figures in American History have that distinction. 

"Never forget that everything Hitler did in Germany was legal." - MLK

 

This is very very true and all of the Laws passes which allowed Hitler to do the unthinkable were passed by the Liberals of the day for the purpose of controlling the thoughts of a Generation. We should remember that when we come up with "feel good laws like ones to keep guns 1000 ft away from public figures.

A citizen with a carry permit could have ended the terror of the guy we all know now was probably the legal definition of dangerous to himself or others

Excellent point guido

In Arizona, no carry permit is required, concealed or otherwise.  Last summer I think they passed "Constitutional" carry.  They still have a permit system for those who want one for reciprication with other states.

 

One of the guys that helped subdue the shooter had a gun.  Here is a video of him setting Ed Schultz straight:

Great video.  Ed Schultz had no good reply for Joe's statement on criminals and guns. 

Eve,

Thanks for bailing that FF out of jail after 3 days so that he wouldn't miss work. 

Yesterday  also marked the 305th anniversary of good ol' Ben Franklin, who seldom rides in my wallet, unfortunately.  Like MLK he never held an elected office but contributed so much to a nation going through revolution.  The following quotes by Ben Franklin mirror the ethos of Rev. King: 

We must, indeed, all hang together or, most assuredly, we shall all hang separately

The strictest law sometimes becomes the severest injustice.

 
They who can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary safety deserve neither liberty nor safety.

Rebellion against tyrants is obedience to God. 

Energy and persistence conquer all things.
He that can have patience can have what he will. 

All mankind is divided into three classes: those that are immovable, those that are movable, and those that move.

Words may show a man's wit but actions his meaning.

"Yesterday  also marked the 305th anniversary of good ol' Ben Franklin, who seldom rides in my wallet, unfortunately.  Like MLK he never held an elected office but contributed so much to a nation going through revolution."

 

Actually Ben Franklin was elected to the Pennsylvania Assembly and also held the office of President of Pennsylvania for 3 terms I believe.

The election to the PA Assembly and PA Presidency were prior to the adoption of the Constitution of the US, so I guess what I meant was 'having an elective office after the Constitution was adopted.'  Thanks for catching that, Max. 
Yes, by then he was so old and sick that even if he wanted to hold elected office, his health probably wouldn't allow it.  I think they had a cot set up for him at the Convention, and often had to be carried in.  But he was a man who had accomplished so much in his long life.  Imagine what more MLK could have accomplished had he been allowed to live.

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