> If you compare this to what is happening in Iran, US citizens are docile.

This is still moot. Even if they appear such (even if they are such) it does not diminish the validity nor righteousness of their message.

> A "peaceful protest" is an oxymoron.

This is false by a plain understanding of the words. A "protest" is an expression against something. "Peaceful" means nonviolent. Obviously expressions can be nonviolent.

I think the problem is just how big the US is. People outside of the US really don't understand this. For instance, I'm about 2300 miles from DC, also known as 3700 km. It just not logistically possible for me to march on the capital. I do what I can locally, a lot of us do, but with everything so spread out, it is hard to make an impact.