[s_m_t]

Yep, always funny when protesters think they are somehow rebelling against the interests of power. Protest is primarily an expression of power. Once I understood this things made a lot more sense.

The authentic protest is almost always met with violence, either directly from the state or with the state allowing or aiding in its administration.

I think, at its core, the message of the state sanctioned protest/counter-protest is essentially "these people can be unleashed on you and you will have no recourse".