Just the same, smashing cars probably won’t endear the generally-docile public to the cause. I would say most people (i.e. the support force necessary for widespread change) don’t want to be associated with violence.

Which is why we should be considering the real possibility that these are false flag attacks. Want to turn the general populace against peaceful protesters? Engineer false flag attacks that make the protesters appear violent. Now you can arrest peaceful protesters and the general populace will turn and look the other way.