[loveistheanswer]

>"peaceful" does not mean the same thing as "non-violent". The protests were not necessarily peaceful -- they intended to be disruptive

peaceful:

1. free from disturbance; tranquil.

2. not involving war or violence.

[Pfhreak]

Yes, thank you for agreeing. There are two different definitions, and the first (free from disturbance) is the one used in this context. The protests aimed to be non peaceful (eg, causing disturbance) and non violent.

[s1artibartfast]

The protests were neither free of disturbance nor non violent (on the fringe)