Who was the leader of the Civil Rights Movement known for advocating nonviolent protest?

The leader of the Civil Rights Movement known for advocating nonviolent protest was Martin Luther King Jr. His approach was influenced by the principles of Mahatma Gandhi, who emphasized nonviolent resistance as a means of achieving social and political change. King believed that nonviolent protest could effectively highlight the injustices faced by African Americans and mobilize public opinion against segregation and discrimination.

Through campaigns such as the Montgomery Bus Boycott and the March on Washington, he emphasized peaceful demonstrations, civil disobedience, and unity among people of diverse backgrounds to create systemic change in American society. King's philosophy was central to the civil rights struggle and helped inspire numerous acts of peaceful protest.

In contrast to other figures associated with the Civil Rights Movement, such as Malcolm X, who often articulated a more militant approach, King's commitment to nonviolence distinguished his leadership. Rosa Parks played a critical role in the movement as an activist, particularly known for her pivotal act of defiance that sparked the Montgomery Bus Boycott, but she was not the overarching leader of the movement. Frederick Douglass was a significant figure in the abolition movement prior to the Civil Rights Movement and focused on ending slavery rather than the civil rights issues of King's era.