Nonviolent protest: The key to the Civil Rights Movement. The Civil Rights Movement has proven to be successful in the eyes of many – the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the Voting Rights Act of 1965 act as prime examples of this success. From the Montgomery Bus Boycott to the Selma to Montgomery March, nonviolent tactics have proven to be effective in challenging the systemic racism and segregation that African Americans face in the United States. But what made nonviolent protest so effective during the civil rights movement? One key reason is its appeal to the morality of the audience. Nonviolent protest appealed to the people’s conscience: if so many people are willing to gather with so much passion and promote a certain cause, then it must be a pressing issue. In fact, evidence for this sentiment can be found from the spearhead of the Civil Rights Movement himself, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.: "Nonviolent direct action seeks to create such a crisis and establish such creative tension that a community that has consistently refused to negotiate is forced to confront the issue." …show more content…
When Rosa Parks refused to give up her seat on a segregated bus, she sparked a movement that lasted over a year which ultimately led to the desegregation of public transport in Montgomery. The boycott relied on the collective strength of the African American community in Montgomery, as it revolved around them choosing not to use public transportation, utilizing other mediums such as taxi services or walking instead. Their commitment to nonviolent protest garnered national attention and catalyzed support for their