Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. was the prominent leader of the Civil Rights Movement, known for his commitment to nonviolent protest to achieve racial equality in the United States. He advocated for civil rights through peaceful demonstrations, such as marches and sit-ins, and is best known for his role in organizing the Montgomery Bus Boycott and the March on Washington, where he delivered his famous "I Have a Dream" speech in 1963. King’s philosophy and strategies were influenced by Mahatma Gandhi's principles of nonviolence, and he played a pivotal role in the advancement of civil rights legislation.