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How Did Martin Luther King Jr Contribute To Nonviolent Resistance

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Martin Luther King Jr. is recognized as one of the most influential people in American history. He was a civil rights activists during the 1950s and 1960s, advocating for justice and racial equality during a time when society was plagued by racial segregation and discrimination enforced by Jim Crow laws. King Jr. refused to accept the current state of society. Wanting to promote change and inspired by Mahatma Gandhi, he firmly believed that change could be achieved through nonviolent resistance and direct action. This was done through organized protests such as marches, boycotts and sit-ins. Born in 1929 in Atlanta, Georgia, Martin Luther King Jr. was raised in an area deeply affected by racial inequality and injustice. His father, Martin …show more content…

firmly believed that nonviolent resistance was the best way to challenge the existing system and promote action and change. Nonviolent resistance involves the use of peaceful methods, such as protests, strikes, and civil disobedience, promoting societal change. King Jr. firmly believed, and saw firsthand, that responding to violence with more violence would only lead to a destructive, endless cycle. Instead, he advocated for a peaceful approach, aiming to create tension within society, particularly among white moderates who claimed to support racial equality, but ultimately, valuing preserving peace and avoiding disruptions within society more. Through nonviolent resistance, King Jr. and his followers confronted and rejected racial norms and discriminatory laws nonviolently. Nonviolent resistance is something that is very hard for people to commit to, especially while being met with violence and being provoked by the other side, but that’s what King and his followers …show more content…

It was more important than ever to remain nonviolent. Protesters suffered severe police brutality in the form of beatings and other cruelties. Some officers would use high pressured water hoses on the activists. They also allowed police dogs to attack the protesters, both adults and children. Tension was at an all-time high, not only in Alabama, but the rest of the country. The nonviolent protests were making headlines. Footage of extreme abuse against individuals who remained nonviolent shocked the

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