Okay, his character doesn't match the standard of a 'civil-rights' activist. But I would think most activists, and people for that matter, have lapses in their character which, if closely examined, would cause their followers to doubt their intentions.

If Butler were trying to start a movement based upon the purity of his or her character, like a religious leader or someone acting as a financial manager, and he made a irresponsible set of actions related to their field, then that person shouldn't be in high-profile positions, like Butler shouldn't.

His impact is due more to the timing of his strike than to the fact that he was fasting for a greater cause. His coverup is bad, but unless people were really making him out to be the leader of a movement, then he just seems like a hundred-thousand other spoiled, privileged kids who probably shouldn't be leaders of political movements.