Upholding The Law When A Criminal is the President: Lessons from Historical Examples

Upholding The Law When A Criminal
Is The President Cover?

When a criminal becomes the President of a nation and disobeys the Constitution, the people must uphold the law where the justice system has failed to do so. This article examines the actions citizens can take to stall the imposition of illegality on them. Historical examples are used to demonstrate how people have risen against the illegality of their President. The importance of civil disobedience and peaceful protests is highlighted, as well as the need for citizens to remain vigilant and informed to protect their democratic rights.

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When a criminal becomes the President of a nation, it poses a grave threat to the rule of law and democratic governance. The President is expected to uphold the Constitution and protect the rights of citizens, but when they become the very person violating those rights, the people must take action to protect themselves and their democratic institutions. This article examines the actions citizens can take to stall the imposition of illegality on them in the face of a criminal President.

One of the most effective actions citizens can take to protest against a criminal President is engaging in civil disobedience. Civil disobedience is a peaceful form of protest where citizens deliberately break a law to draw attention to the injustice of that law. It has been used successfully in many historical examples, most notably during the civil rights movement in the United States. Civil rights activists disobeyed laws that discriminated against African Americans, such as segregation laws, and were willing to face the consequences of their actions to challenge the legality of those laws. Through civil disobedience, they were able to bring about significant changes in the legal system and advance the cause of civil rights.

Photo: "American civil rights movement, the mass protest movement against racial segregation and discrimination in the southern United States that came to national prominence during the mid-1950s." Quote Credit: Clayborne Carson

Another effective action citizens can take is organizing peaceful protests. Protests are a way of expressing dissent and drawing attention to issues that are not being addressed by the government. Protests can take many forms, from large-scale marches to sit-ins and demonstrations. They can be effective in putting pressure on a government to change its policies or to address grievances. They can also serve as a way of uniting citizens around a common cause and building momentum for change.

Historical examples demonstrate the power of civil disobedience and peaceful protests. In 1986, the people of the Philippines organized a peaceful revolution against the dictatorship of President Ferdinand Marcos. The revolution was sparked by the assassination of opposition leader Benigno Aquino Jr. on August 21, 1983.

After Aquino's death, a prolonged campaign of civil resistance was waged against the regime's violence and electoral fraud which eventually forced Marcos to flee the country, bringing an end to his dictatorship. This resistance is credited with transforming the opposition against the Marcos regime from a small, isolated movement into a national crusade. It is also attributed to thrusting Aquino's widow, Corazon Aquino, into the public spotlight and her running for president in the 1986 snap election. 

Photo 1: In 1986, the Philippines’ People Power was the world’s bright spot.

Capitals across the world celebrated when Filipinos showed a peaceful uprising could challenge an unbending dictatorship and topple military rule. Credit: Sofia Tomacruz RAPPLER IQ

Another example is the Velvet Revolution in Czechoslovakia in 1989. The revolution was a peaceful protest against the communist government, and it was led by dissident groups and students. The protesters engaged in civil disobedience by staging sit-ins and demonstrations, and they were eventually able to force the government to hold free elections and establish a multiparty democracy.

In conclusion, when a criminal becomes the President of a nation and disobeys the Constitution, the people must uphold the law where the justice system has failed to do so. Civil disobedience and peaceful protests are effective actions citizens can take to hinder the imposition of illegality on them in the face of a criminal President.