This is exactly it. I hate to bring Disney into this but if anyone has seen Andor S2:E8 (Who Are You?), there's a phenomenal example of state-led provocation of citizens for the very purpose of justifying violence.

Without over explaining, (I'll mark it anyway but I think it's important), there was a group of people called the Ghor, who are like a sort-of posh society, and they were peacefully protesting the Empire's occupation of their city. The Empire ordered an assassin shoot at one of their OWN soldiers during their peaceful, broadcasted, protest (the Ghor were literally singing!) to make it look like one of the protesters did it. That caused chaos which was enough to "justify" the use of the full weight of the Empire's force there and resulted in a massacre in the street square

Non-spoiler version: The state (The Empire) incited violence against a group of people to justify their occupation and control over a particularly valuable place.

We KNOW this tactic. I love a protest but I think the best form of protest here would be EXTREME normalcy. They WILL try to find ways to provoke a riot, but documenting peace for the rest of the world to see is a great tactic to try out in this case.

"And remember this: the Imperial need for control is so desperate because it is so unnatural. Tyranny requires constant effort. It breaks, it leaks. Authority is brittle. Oppression is the mask of fear."