I don't think anyone is claiming the protests are 100% peaceful. The question, then, is how much violence occurs relative to total protest activity?

If fewer than 50% of protestors engage in violence, wouldn't it then be accurate to describe the protest as 'mostly peaceful'?

> I don't think anyone is claiming the protests are 100% peaceful.

Some people certainly are, I've heard a few people who attended the riots in Seattle claim the police were the only ones rioting. They're very adamant about that 'only' and any evidence to the contrary is met with "well he's a cop in disguise." It's a case of No True Protestor.

It's very tiresome when people demand you believe their transparent bullshit.

It gives a false impression. If even a few percent of 10s of thousands of protesters is looting and rioting that can do enormous damage.

So the ‘few bad apples’ argument is valid for police force that they’re protesting, but not for the protestors?

What about those that try to escalate things and aren't affiliated with the protests?