> ... peaceful protesting...

Is setting fires on public transport, damaging roads and buildings, beating up (in some cases almost killing) innocent bystanders "peaceful protesting"?

What westerners do not understand is that the 2019 riots in HK are motivated by hatred toward Chinese mainlanders who have risen in wealth in recent decades and to whom HK residents have historically felt superior.

A parallel in the West may be racially motivated hate crimes. You don't call Ku Klux Klan rallies "peaceful".