I don't generally buy the "optics" argument (because, as you said, the media will present their own narrative), but at the moment the convoy appears to be winning the PR battle. Now, should the convoy remain peaceful regardless of the actions of the government? I'd say no (I'd rather not be executed in the street while exercising my right to peacefully protest), but if you're going to violently resist the government you'd want to have as much support behind you as possible, or you're accepting that the end result for you is likely to be a life of torture until you are executed or expire of "natural causes".