If the government were the target audience, perhaps. Although governments do listen to protests. They want you to think they’re useless so that people don’t join in for thinking that they’re useless.

But there is another target audience, the public. Don’t underestimate how much protests empower onlookers who agree with the message but haven’t quite plucked up the courage to join in yet.

Seeing tens, hundreds, or thousands march in the street is not necessarily going to change minds. It may change a few but more importantly, it gives those who already agree a change to know that they’re not alone.

That’s powerful, particularly in a world where the right wing control almost all media and use that control to give the impression that everyone is right wing and you’d be cast out if you thought different.