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Question: Let me give another explanation. A law is unjust if it is inflicted on a minority that, as a result of being denied the right to vote, had no part in enacting or devising the law. Who can say that the legislature of Alabama which set up that state’s segregation laws was democratically elected? Throughout Alabama all sorts of devious methods are used to prevent Negroes from becoming registered voters, and there are some counties in which, even though Negroes constitute a majority of the population, not a single Negro is registered. Can any law enacted under such circumstances be considered democratically structured? Sometimes a law is just on its face and unjust in its application. For instance, I have been arrested on a charge of parading without a permit. Now, there is nothing wrong in having an ordinance which requires a permit for a parade. But such an ordinance becomes unjust when it is used to maintain segregation and to deny citizens the First-Amendment privilege of peaceful assembly and protest. Explain what Dr. King means when he says that just laws can be unjust in their application. What is he saying in his examples? How does this support the central idea of his argument?
Dr. King is highlighting a nuanced perspective on the nature of laws, asserting that even laws that appear fair and reasonable ("just on their face") can be implemented in ways that are discriminatory and oppressive ("unjust in their application"). In his examples, Dr. King provides specific cases to illustrate this point. He talks about the ordinance requiring a permit for a parade, which on its surface seems like a reasonable regulation to maintain public order. However, Dr. King argues that this ordinance becomes unjust when it is exploited to uphold segregation and to suppress the basic constitutional rights of peaceful assembly and protest. In practice, the ordinance is selectively enforced to target and silence marginalized groups, specifically the African American community fighting for civil rights. This argument supports the central idea of Dr. King's critique of laws surrounding segregation and civil rights. He is drawing attention to the fact that the legitimacy of a law is not only determined by its written content but also by how it is applied in real-life scenarios. By pointing out such discrepancies, he emphasizes that the fight for justice is not only about changing overtly discriminatory laws but also about ensuring that ostensibly fair laws are not wielded as tools of oppression. This distinction underscores Dr. King's broader assertion that true justice requires both fair laws and fair implementation, ensuring that all individuals are treated equally under the law.
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