[GMoromisato]

Protesting is within the democratic process. Labor strikes are within the democratic process. Civil disobedience is within the democratic process (they were prepared to suffer the consequences, including jail time).

But throwing Molotov cocktails is terrorism. And I don't believe (please correct me) that a terrorist has ever gotten new laws passed by using terror.

[unethical_ban]

Check the history of Ireland.

[pocksuppet]

Almost every peaceful protest in history only caused change if it was backed up by a more violent alternative. TPTB (TPTW?) accepted the minimum amount of the requested change that causes the violence to stop, and then claimed it was the peaceful protest that made them do so.