In a certain democratic country the legislature passed a new tax law over the principled objections of the parliamentary opposition. Some opposition leaders broke the new law by refusing to pay the new tax. They defended their lawbreaking by citing the historical precedent in the country of activists' having to break laws in winning for women the right to vote.
The opposition leaders, unlike the activists, were part of the democratic process that they are defying most weakens the opposition leaders' argument in defense of their actions.