Where did the leaders of the civil rights movement get the idea for non-violent civil protests? Why did they embrace this tactic?

The idea of non-violence was heavily grounded in religion and common sense. However, in order to succeed non-violent protest required not just the support of the black population but their active participation. Black churches were the only black dominated mass organization's in the south that were capable of uniting this level of support at the time of the civil rights movement. Religious leaders were well respected and held