When in Birmingham jail, Martin Luther King Jr. wrote a letter in which he argued that while we should obey the law, laws that are unjust and degrade human personalities and just laws which are used to deny a citizen's right should be fought against. Martin Luther King expressed that "Justice too long delayed is justice denied." as one of the biggest reasons American negroes can no longer wait and took action. "I hope, sirs, you can understand our legitimate and unavoidable impatience." Of course, he also argued that they should be worried about how willing most are to break the law, he doesn't advocate evading or denying the law. "One who breaks an unjust law must do so openly, lovingly, and with a willingness to accept the penalty." because while they are going against an unjust law, they are also breaking other just laws, even if they are being used unjustly. Doctor king's argument aligns with Hobbes's (positivism) and Locke's (natural law) arguments on how laws should be and how they should be followed. He agrees (with Hobbes) that laws should be followed and those who disobey the law should accept the consequence, but he also agrees (with Locke) that laws should be just and not oppressed one's natural right, and if it does the people should fight against it.

Martin Luther King Jr. uses an interesting format in his letter to persuade the U.S. people, to stand against injustice for equality, he uses black's point of view in the beginning, and argues on the what kind of laws there are (just and unjust) and the kind of laws they are fighting against (unjust) and explains why some laws are unjust. He starts off with life in a black's point of view to gain sympathy and show the reality of how they live, "When you are harried by day and haunted by night by the fact that you are a negro, living constantly at tiptoe stance, never quite knowing what to expect next, and are plagued with inner fears and other resentments." and how they feel to give the readers an idea of why they are protesting, why everyone should be protesting. He also acknowledges that laws should be obeyed, but some laws are just too unjust (in this case, laws which oppress and take away natural rights) to be obeyed, "Conversely, one has a moral responsibility to disobey unjust laws." thought that doesn't mean they are above the law and shouldn't be punished. By saying this he gains the respect of many! because it takes guts to say 'yes, I am breaking the law and should be punished' when you believe you are fighting for the greater good and shouldn't really be punished for what you are doing. This helps to draw more people to his cause because he makes others acknowledge how blacks are being treated and the effects of it, brings a good argument that will make people be more open to fighting for others natural right, as well as acknowledge the sacrifices and consequences, but how worth it the end result will be.