A pacifistic nature in your physical life combined with a sharp and pointed nature in what you write can be the key to stir more people than any act of violence would ever accomplish. Think of literature. Literature has been around since man learned to write, and with a little hope it will be around for many more years to come. That is, however, without the aid of biased censorship. An article exposing something or calling someone something can be your ticket to activism.
Violence accomplishes nothing in the long run, and it's the path of the ignorant.
More than you think. Violence is popularized by many different medias. It's an informative media for the betterment and structure of a social being. The media can stir the feelings of people and make them believe half-truths. Stories like school shootings are great opportunities for the media to pick up on and live off.