If you are merely standing around, passively holding your signs just out of everyone's way (and basically being all legal and stuff), you'd be surprised how much positive attention you garner; people are far more likely to come inquire about what your cause is, and take some literature after hearing your case presented calmly and logically.
A lot of that depends on the police as well. Everyone's so used to reports of protests in France turning violent that we're almost jaded. But really, that's not the protestors' fault so much as it's due to the French cops resorting to tear gas every time someone in the crowd sneezes.
If you are merely standing around, passively holding your signs just out of everyone's way (and basically being all legal and stuff), you'd be surprised how much positive attention you garner; people are far more likely to come inquire about what your cause is, and take some literature after hearing your case presented calmly and logically.
If the press hates your cause they will slander it as ‘right wing’ and ‘violent’ no matter the truth.
Also, if the press loves your cause they will twist the facts to portray it as ‘peaceful’
https://fee.org/articles/the-solzhenitsyn-quote-that-explains-the-mostly-peaceful-violence-in-america/
A lot of that depends on the police as well. Everyone's so used to reports of protests in France turning violent that we're almost jaded. But really, that's not the protestors' fault so much as it's due to the French cops resorting to tear gas every time someone in the crowd sneezes.
How well did the lockdown protests work?