Is it ok for activists to break the law?

[fudion14]

When is it justifiable for protesters and activists to break the law for the sake of their cause?

[hwilliams591]

Commonsense!

When is it ever OK to break the law! It is not and no it should not be justified.

[amyrouse]

Any activist that has broken the law for the sake of their cause has just denied their cause credibility. 

Examples: What do you think about Pro-Lifer's who murder doctors that perform abortions?  What about the PETA advocates that throw paint on fur coats?

[Graeth]

It isn't. they just got nothing better to do.

[Falconer02]

Never!

......Vigilanties FTW!

[rogery]

Depends on the law, depends on the cause.

[502mania]

What if a monkey beaks the law?

[ButterflyWings]

Never thats when they pass being activists and turn into Nutcases and extremists!!

[lvstephanie]

I think there is a fine line... The example of the pro-lifers killing abortion doctors or PETA throwing paint on fur coats are more of the extreme, but what about more minor acts of civil disobedience that we have witnessed in our country's history... Is Rosa Parks an evil person or did she do something wrong by not complying with the law? Heck, even our country's founding was based on activists breaking the law: the Boston Tea Party was a huge protest against the British government. And that activism actually lead to a war.

I think for the most part one should try to abide by the laws when protesting against something. Our freedoms allow us to demonstrate, speak, make documentaries, etc. to get your point across without having to resort to breaking the law. But I can't say that for all instances; after all "when in the course of human events" a government that creates and implements laws that go against the laws of nature / God, thereby violate a person's freedom to their natural rights without just cause, then I can see where breaking a law is ok. If the governments were to suddenly say that all blue-eyed people are to be imprisoned for no reason, you can be sure there's be many protesters breaking that law.

[502mania]

I think there is a fine line... The example of the pro-lifers killing abortion doctors or PETA throwing paint on fur coats are more of the extreme, but what about more minor acts of civil disobedience that we have witnessed in our country's history... Is Rosa Parks an evil person or did she do something wrong by not complying with the law? Heck, even our country's founding was based on activists breaking the law: the Boston Tea Party was a huge protest against the British government. And that activism actually lead to a war.

Great point

[walksalone11]

When is it justifiable for protesters and activists to break the law for the sake of their cause?

In my opinion, you are asking to entirely different questions here. In the title you ask is it ok...... in the body you ask when it is justifiable.

It is never, "ok" to break a law, however, whether in some cases it is justifiable or not, is up to the desecration of whoever is considering it.

In my opinion, as a long time activist(in the real) there is never any justification in violence nor destruction of property.
However, we do use civil disobedience as well as passive resistance.

If I can locate some pics of a certain protest I attended a couple years ago I will demonstrate some of the methods we employ.

But regardless of how well justified you feel in your actions, if you break a law, you better be prepared to accept the consequences of those acts.

Believe me, you will get arrested, and depending on the sympathy, or lack of, of the judge you go before, you may get anything from a slap on the wrist to have not only the book, but the whole damned library thrown at you.

Only you know if it is worth the price you will have to pay.