Who said “Freedom is never voluntarily given by the oppressor; it must be demanded by the oppressed.”?

Verified

Martin Luther King Jr.. A published source records them saying or writing it.

SourceLetter from a Birmingham Jail (1963)

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Cite this quote

For academic work, cite the original where you can: Letter from a Birmingham Jail (1963).

APA

King, M. L. J. (n.d.). Freedom is never voluntarily given by the oppressor; it must be demanded by the oppressed. [Quotation]. Famous Quotations Network. Retrieved October 24, 2026, from https://www.famous-quotations.com/quotes/18490-freedom-is-never-voluntarily-given-by-the-oppressor/

MLA

King, Martin Luther Jr. “Freedom is never voluntarily given by the oppressor; it must be demanded by the oppressed.” Famous Quotations Network, https://www.famous-quotations.com/quotes/18490-freedom-is-never-voluntarily-given-by-the-oppressor/. Accessed 24 Oct. 2026.

Chicago

King, Martin Luther Jr. “Freedom is never voluntarily given by the oppressor; it must be demanded by the oppressed.” Famous Quotations Network. Accessed October 24, 2026. https://www.famous-quotations.com/quotes/18490-freedom-is-never-voluntarily-given-by-the-oppressor/.

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