Honestly it's always been an implicit "threat of violence". I.e. it's an olive branch being extended to the powers that be, telling them that "we're willing to

Honestly it's always been an implicit "threat of violence". I.e. it's an olive branch being extended to the powers that be, telling them that "we're willing to remain civil, for the time being, but we're giving you a stark warning that we're also willing to organize into large groups (demonstrated by the protesters mobilizing at all), and become violent if things don't change. The thing that's changed is that the people in power are no longer taking the implicit threat seriously. The dog is snarling at them, yet somehow, it's unthinkable that they're about to be bitten.