What event sparked the Civil Rights Movement's emphasis on nonviolent protest?

The Montgomery Bus Boycott is pivotal in highlighting the emphasis on nonviolent protest within the Civil Rights Movement due to its strategic and impactful nature. This event began in December 1955 when Rosa Parks was arrested for refusing to give up her bus seat to a white person. The boycott lasted for over a year and involved African Americans refusing to use the city buses, which significantly reduced the bus company's revenue and drew national attention to racial segregation.

Led by figures like Martin Luther King Jr., the boycott exemplified the effectiveness of nonviolent resistance as a means to challenge unjust laws and practices. It mobilized a community and demonstrated that organized, peaceful protest could lead to substantial change, paving the way for future actions within the movement that prioritized nonviolent tactics as a core principle.

While other events like Brown v. Board of Education, the March on Washington, and the Freedom Rides were crucial in the broader narrative of the Civil Rights Movement, the Montgomery Bus Boycott marked a significant turning point where nonviolent protest became a recognized and effective method for advocating social and political change.