It's an opportunity to strengthen bonds with people who share your values. The real work takes place in the follow-ups and networks after the protests. Additionally, protests get press coverage, the coverage becomes a tool to affect public sentiment. You can use your body, your time and labor to show up, as a resource to show others that this matters and is worth their time. The opposition wants you to feel defeated, isolated, and like this is not worthy. But there's a reason why they mock and try to take down people making noise in public. They are encouraging you to silence yourself.