Final answer:
King believed in peaceful resistance as a means to challenge unjust systems and practices without resorting to violence. The Montgomery Bus Boycott is a significant example of how peaceful resistance can bring about social change. King's commitment to nonviolence was influenced by figures like Gandhi.
Step-by-step explanation:
Kings belief in peaceful resistance stems from his commitment to nonviolence as a guiding principle in the pursuit of civil rights. He believed that violence only perpetuates a cycle of hate and leads to further oppression. By advocating for peaceful resistance, King aimed to challenge unjust systems and practices while maintaining the moral high ground.
One of the most prominent examples of King's belief in peaceful resistance was the Montgomery Bus Boycott in 1955-1956. Rather than resorting to violence, African Americans in Montgomery, Alabama protested the racially segregated bus system through a year-long boycott. By refusing to ride the buses, they demonstrated their unity and determination in a nonviolent manner, ultimately leading to a Supreme Court ruling that declared segregation on public buses unconstitutional.
King's commitment to nonviolent resistance was influenced by figures such as Mahatma Gandhi, who used similar strategies in the Indian independence movement. He believed that peaceful resistance had the power to bring about lasting social change and appeal to the conscience of oppressors. King saw it as a way to peacefully challenge unjust laws and practices while inspiring empathy and understanding in others.
Learn more about King's belief in peaceful resistance