Question:

What would you call someone who breaks an oppressive law?

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People who break laws in general are called criminals, of course. From some points of view, however, some people who break laws might not be called criminals.

For example, let's say that country X has the law that every person should be executed when they reach the age of 40, because they have outlived their usefulness. To the government of country X, people who try to evade this law are criminals. To someone from our culture, however, these people are simply trying to escape an oppressive system. I don't want to call them "criminals" because I believe that the laws they have broken are wrong and oppressive. This is an extreme example, but hopefully it gets my point across.

As another example, country Y says that it is illegal to treat medical illnesses with modern medical techniques. Someone with asthma smuggles in medicine and secretly takes it in order to live. The government would call this person a criminal, but I would not.

What is a word or concise term that you would apply to both of these two examples, as well as any other example of an oppressive law. Is there a word for that or a concise way of putting it? I want to say "protester", but not all people who break oppressive laws really have the intent to protest. Any ideas?

(this is actually a repost of the same question in a different category to get additional viewpoints.)

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4 ANSWERS


  1. The question is enough for an answer.  Who defines a law as oppressive?  An interest group or is defiance a major social movement that will better the majority?  There are various levels of criminal activity and the social stigma attached depends on culture and a given time.


  2. Anarchists, radicals, rebels - I've been protesting unfair censorship for over twenty years.  What does that make me?

  3. The first example I classify as a civil rights activists.  The second example seems to be in underground resistance.  Your description fit those categories well.


  4. um rebel?

    human rights activist?

    philanthropist?

    rights retainer?

    i dunno but i call my self these.

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