I believe actions directed at effecting change consistent with your beliefs and values are most effective when you set aside meaningless and ineffective acts like harming yourself or others.
Such actions are wasted efforts that attract momentary attention to you and your behaviour but do nothing to further your cause. Is it a “Cop-out?” No, it is just a waste of effort, energy and the cause of a lot of unnecessary noise and needless damage.
It does take more courage, energy and resolve to work diligently to further your cause through peaceful effort to win over your opponents by promoting respectful dialogue and collaboration towards shared goals and values.
Attacking others with violence is rarely truly directed at promoting change. It is about imposing your will on others without regard for their wellbeing or needs. It is sometimes about taking what others have without their consent.
That is true when a country attacks another to forcibly overthrow a government and impose foreign values on those people. This never works in the long run.
It does not work any better at the individual level. You can hurt or kill another but you won’t change their ideas or beliefs by force.