Which non-violent protests significantly advanced the civil rights agenda?

The Montgomery Bus Boycott, the March on Washington, and the Birmingham Campaign significantly advanced the civil rights agenda.

The Montgomery Bus Boycott, which took place from 1955 to 1956, was a pivotal event in the Civil Rights Movement. Sparked by Rosa Parks' arrest for refusing to give up her bus seat to a white passenger, the African American community in Montgomery, Alabama, organised a boycott of the city's bus system. This non-violent protest lasted for over a year, causing significant economic strain on the public transportation system. The boycott led to a Supreme Court ruling that segregation on public buses was unconstitutional, marking a significant victory for the civil rights movement.

The March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom, held in 1963, was another significant non-violent protest. It drew over 200,000 people to the nation's capital, making it one of the largest political rallies for human rights in United States history. The march is most famous for Martin Luther King Jr.'s "I Have a Dream" speech, which articulated the hopes of the civil rights movement and is considered one of the greatest speeches in American history. The march helped to increase public awareness of the civil rights struggle and put pressure on the Kennedy administration to advance civil rights legislation in Congress.

The Birmingham Campaign, launched in 1963 by the Southern Christian Leadership Conference (SCLC), aimed to bring national attention to the enforcement of federal civil rights laws and the integration of African Americans into all aspects of life. The campaign used a variety of non-violent methods of protest, including sit-ins, marches, and a boycott of local businesses. The violent response of local authorities, including the use of fire hoses and police dogs against protesters, was widely publicised, causing outrage both nationally and internationally. The Birmingham Campaign is considered a turning point in the Civil Rights Movement, leading to increased support for civil rights legislation and the eventual passage of the Civil Rights Act of 1964.