these 2 don't jibe
If they weren't defending themselves from the savagery then they were turning the other cheek. The man most recognized as the leader of the movement preached pacifism and nonviolence
Some of the marches were actually violent, which is why Dr. King and other leaders had to review who would be in the marches. Most of the time they actually selected people/groups that would be in the marches. They didn't just have you and me and my cousin knuck-knuck and em showing up; because they knew that it was going to be some bullshyt at those rallies and that would actually cause media to focus on the Black people fighting rather than on the savageness of the White people.
They knew exactly what they were doing.