The protesters are self-appointed guardians of the one true way. They answer only to their own self-righteousness. The various protest groups don't even claim democracy among themselves. The socialists in their ranks see that as a tactical advantage. As any reasonably informed leftist could tell you, democracy is for suckers .
Suburban legends fill a void.
Many people surrounded by the peace and prosperity of the modern western world have no idea how they got so lucky. They've learned everything they know about individual liberty and free market capitalism from collectivized bureaucrats at government institutions . It's as if the west is rich because we regularly sacrifice virgins to the volcano god. Ignorance begets superstition. Superstition begets gullibility.