Would I have been able to use civil disobedience?

I'm not sure that I could bring myself to face the consequences to civil disobedience. I'm all for the idea of it, but getting beaten and arrested for peaceful actions isn't something I want to deal with. If I could do something legal, I would do it without even a second thought. If I could do the things that MLK jr. and his followers were doing, but without being attacked, I would do them right away. I just don't think it's worth it to get beaten for a protest that might not even have an effect.