Sure they can! However, in this particular instance, I was simply pointing out that, in contrast to the OP's statement that "any possible answer is a conspiracy theory.", there is a possible narrative where a group of society's elites can indeed be participating in the protests not because of some hidden motive, but instead because their own values genuinely align with those of other, non-elite protesters.

There are certainly also conspiracy theory narratives that can fit the situation if one is so inclined that way. :-)