The second continental congress chose to send the olive branch petition to the king instead of parliament because

Parliament had passed laws the colonists considered unfair.

Explanation: The second continental congress decided to send the request of the olive branch to the king instead of the parliament because they wanted to convince him to support the liberals because the parliament was mostly rooted in conservatism, a situation that did not favor them, since it restricted them the right for the colonies to have representation in it and decided to appeal to the good faith of the king but found their refusal, who in turn called them rebels.