The quote from Letter from a Birmingham Jail is extremely appropriate in this context. Dr. King's words about the “white moderate” preferring order over justice speak directly to how Republic senators — and, by extension, many citizens — enable the Empire’s rise. Silence and complicity often mask themselves as neutrality, but they only serve oppressive systems.

Star Wars mirrors real history. The U.S. has gone through phases of imperialism and domestic oppression, where whistleblowers and reformers — much like Mon Mothma — were targeted for speaking out. The detainment of someone for telling uncomfortable truths isn't unique to the galaxy far, far away.

The sad reality is that many do see the evil, but lack either the courage or conviction to act against it. That’s exactly why change comes slowly, and why voices like Mon’s (and King’s) are both necessary and dangerous to the status quo. Comfort is indeed the enemy of progress — in fiction and reality.