There have been comparisons by my fellow Bruins between the current protests and the proests in the 1980's. When we protested, very loudly, for the divestiture of all investments by UCLA in South Africa during my day the reaction wasn't as severe as what's happening now (and I was there) there were still arrests, although not as many.
No rubber bullets and smoke grenades that I can recall.
It's about the response to the protests, and it must change.