Would you have been able to use civil disobedience and non-violence?

I don't think i would be able to do something like that, i see myself watching from the sidelines. Doing something like that takes a lot of vanity and audacity during those times. Also, the punishments were cruel. Many were sprayed with firehoses causing them to fall over, or be pushed back into a building. Many were assaulted by riot police using clubs and tear gas. Even though it ended with civil rights to all citizens, i would never have been able to think up the courage to use civil disobedience and non-violence.