The prominent civil rights activist associated with the use of nonviolent protest in the 20th century was Martin Luther King Jr.. He is best known for advocating peaceful methods to combat racial inequality and injustice in the United States. King’s leadership during the Montgomery Bus Boycott and the March on Washington exemplified his philosophy of civil disobedience. He emphasized the importance of love, dignity, and social justice in achieving civil rights for African Americans, culminating in his iconic “I Have a Dream” speech that called for racial harmony and equality.