The prominent leader of the American Civil Rights Movement known for his philosophy of nonviolence was Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. He advocated for peaceful protests and civil disobedience as means to combat racial injustice and segregation in the United States during the 1950s and 1960s. Influenced by Mahatma Gandhi, King emphasized love, justice, and nonviolent resistance, seeking to transform society through moral persuasion rather than force. His leadership during events such as the Montgomery Bus Boycott and the March on Washington, where he delivered his iconic "I Have a Dream" speech, were pivotal moments in the struggle for civil rights.