Each trade is two way right? Who is buying the retail orders being forced to sell? Does being able to sell (to those already short, who can close their position

Each trade is two way right? Who is buying the retail orders being forced to sell? Does being able to sell (to those already short, who can close their position) not seem like blatant manipulation to help those already short? Or if only retail is unable to open new positions, why are institutional investors allowed to open new positions and profit from the moves while retail cannot?