The movement is well-known for using peaceful demonstrations and peacefully refusing to follow unfair laws by using civil disobedience. Protestors used strategies like peaceful marches, sit ins and non-violent boycotts to achieve their goal. The authorities and racist white people would attack them, but the activists never fought back.
However this movement was made up of many groups and people who believed in in their own version of empowerment. For example, the Black Power group believed black people should assert their rights through force to make white leaders