What should be evident to anyone now is that governments are actually the ones who finance and start protests for things the government wants to do. Government loves protests as long as the protests are helping the government. For protests that aren't in the governments favor though... well those aren't allowed.

So yes, protest all you want as long as you protest in the way we want you too. For democracy. Just like if you vote against one of their chosen political leaders, you're against democracy. Vote the way we tell you to for democracy! Same for protesting. Protest the way we want you to for democracy!