If it doesn’t disrupt anything, can it even really be considered a protest?
Yes, it can. The goal of non-disruptive peaceful protests is sometimes just to stand up and make it clear that a significant number of people hold this view.
Sometimes the intended audience is the protesters' own society, but in other cases it is intended as a show of solidarity to let oppressed people know they are not forgotten.
If you want to protest disruptively that's fine. I'm not advocating for one style over another, I'm just pointing out that both are valid forms of protest.
If it doesn't disrupt anything, can it even really be considered a protest?
Nope, it can't. Good luck explaining that to the "I get that climate but inconveniencing commuters illegal" contingent, though…
Yes, it can. The goal of non-disruptive peaceful protests is sometimes just to stand up and make it clear that a significant number of people hold this view.
Sometimes the intended audience is the protesters' own society, but in other cases it is intended as a show of solidarity to let oppressed people know they are not forgotten.
People are tired of wasting their time for no attention. If your cause needs attention, you don't politely stand on the sidewalk.
If you want to protest disruptively that's fine. I'm not advocating for one style over another, I'm just pointing out that both are valid forms of protest.