Civil disobedience has historically challenged unjust laws, exemplified by Thoreau’s refusal to pay taxes to protest war. More recently, activists have resisted NSA wiretapping, with hero Edward Snowden exposing mass surveillance programs as a form of resistance against government overreach.

These acts of civil disobedience—Thoreau’s refusal to support injustice and Snowden’s whistleblowing—highlight the power of nonviolent resistance to challenge oppressive systems.