Final answer:
Civil rights protesters reversed the stigma of arrest by using nonviolence in the face of hostility, gaining public support for their cause and leading to significant civil rights legislation.
Step-by-step explanation:
Civil rights protesters turned the idea of being arrested for a cause "on its head" by using nonviolent actions and civil disobedience as a means of highlighting the injustices and inequalities of segregationist policies. When faced with arrests, these protesters upheld a dignified and peaceful stance, which often gained public sympathy and media attention. This strategy was particularly effective when nonviolence was met with violence from authorities, as was the case in Birmingham under police chief Bull Connor. This contrast often led to increased support for the civil rights cause and greater scrutiny of segregationist policies. The civil rights movement's tactical use of civil disobedience and boycotts—like the Montgomery Bus Boycott led by figures such as Rosa Parks and Martin Luther King Jr.—forced the American public to reckon with the stark disparity between American ideals and the treatment of African Americans. The boycotts, sit-ins, and demonstrations played a key role in desegregating public spaces and pushing for landmark legislation like the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the Voting Rights Act of 1965.