Protesting upsets people and so it should, because the whole reason behind a protest movement is because people have not been listened to in the first place. Often the protesters have been excluded from the process entirely.
I'm lucky to live in a country where protesting is in the genes, if you don't like something get out and shout about it, tsk, tsking in the library never changed anything, now shouting and throwing books around may upset the readers, but so what.
I have been arrested at protests, warned quite a few times and actually told not to be naughty again by a magistrate. Hell, at least I [and the movement] was heard, many tsk, tsked, sorry but sometimes when a deaf ear is turned you have to go further than saying "excuse me, but".
When farmers overturn cargoes of manure over the town hall, when they block roads with tractors, I assure you they are not doing it because it is fun [it can be as funny as hell] it is because their whole way of life is threatened. These are not the industrial farmers but those just getting buy and paying their enormous debts.
When people are targeted for execution because of the color of their skin, then this is going to rightfully cause problems. The worst thing you can do is to appear to turn a deaf ear, especially if you are perceived to have power to change the situation. So rather than regard people protesting you personally as a negative, treat it as a positive, they think you can help. People don't protest where they think they will have no effect.
When a protest movement forms it is rarely made up of a well organized committee it tends to have factions and individuals with completely different ideas as to how it should act. The civil rights movement was hardly monolithic.
Then some bright sparks try to create "free speech zones" miles away from the event where protesters can protest in a corral. To me that is a signal to break the rules and go protest where it will be the most awkward and that sure as hell isn't in the "free speech zone". "You should only protest where it is convenient for us" is going to make me mad, yes, I am contrary.
When I watch the reporting after the CRS have baton charged peaceful if noisy and inconveniently positioned protesters blame the protesters for police violence, I am not surprised at the next protest some protesters are not quite so peaceful. It is often only after things have got well and truly out of hand that worthwhile negotiations take place. Gosh, it would have been easier for all concerned if that had been the first action.
To me, as a natural protester, the best result is to be welcomed and talked to, even if it isn't in the schedule. Hell, we might even agree on some things, at least I will be more predisposed to listen. Yes, there are protesters that are as deaf as those they are objecting to, that's life.
Just a thought.