Antigone:

Haemon to Creon, li. 776-78:

". . . the city mourns for this young girl. 'No woman,' they say, 'ever deserved death less, and such a brutal death for such a glorious action.'"

Chorus to Antigone, li. 960-63:

"Reverence asks some reverence in return--but attacks on power never go unchecked, not by the man who holds the reins of power."

Antigone's monologue, li. 989-94:

"Eteocles--When you died I washed you with my hands, I dressed you all . . . But now, Polynices, because I laid your body out as well, this , this is my reward."

Creon to his entourage, li. 1235-37:

"I and my better judgement have come round to this--I shackled her, I'll set her free myself."

Thesis Article #2:

"Similarities Between Antigone and Martin Luther King, Jr.: 'An Unjust Law Is No Law At All'"

- Lewis A. Sussman
(Classical Bulletin, 78 (1): 43-66. Retrieved Apr 28, 2008 from ProQuest Research Library)

    Sussman presents a very interesting comparison of Antigone and Martin Luther King, Jr.  He points out that both used civil disobedience to protest against what they believe to be unjust laws.  Antigone buried her brother illegally, while King broke countless laws in an effort to ensure that African Americans would be treated equally by government and society.  The author touches on the fact that both figures completely disagreed with moderates who urged action within the laws, such as Ismene in Antigone and some very conservative Civil Rights activists during King’s time.
    When it comes to unjust laws, Sussman compares the quotes of Antigone and King, which are shown to be quite similar.  Each holds such a law to be one that is in violation of a higher law, of the gods’ law in Antigone’s case and of moral law in King’s.  The author also draws a parallel between Haemon in Antigone and King, stating that both preferred using reason to accomplish their ends, using challenges of authority only as a last resort.
    Sussman holds that Antigone and King are both surprisingly effective tools for civil disobedience, having overcome the traditional unimportant roles that society has attached to them.  Antigone is a woman, wholly excluded from all political processes, and King is similarly from an unrepresented group, African Americans.  The author posits that both figures could have led very prosperous lives if they had not become involved in fights for justice, with Antigone possibly becoming a queen and King living as a financially secure college professor.  Finally, Sussman argues that Antigone and King were both largely isolated from society because of their actions and were erroneously labeled extremists.  The author has presented an intriguing case for comparing a great literary character with a great civil rights figure, and succeeds beyond any doubt.

Click here for the original article (.pdf format)

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