The influential civil rights leader best known for advocating nonviolent civil disobedience is Martin Luther King Jr. Born in Atlanta, Georgia, he became a prominent figure in the American civil rights movement during the 1950s and 1960s. His philosophy was deeply rooted in the principles of Mahatma Gandhi, emphasizing peaceful protests and civil resistance against racial injustice. King's leadership during pivotal events such as the Montgomery Bus Boycott and the March on Washington, where he delivered his iconic "I Have a Dream" speech, helped to galvanize public support for civil rights legislation and highlight the struggle for racial equality in the United States.