I look back at the history of the USA. The Boston Tea Party was a protest, but was followed by the Battles of Lexington and Concord, the success of which depends on which side you're on. How about Rosa Parks and the bus boycott? It worked, but again the opinion depends on which side of the issue you're on. How about the Vietnam era protests? Remember the shootings at Kent Sate and the outrage that followed? The Stonewall riots? The US has had a torrid history of protests, marches and insurrection. Did it help or hurt? Again the opinions of success or failure are as varied as the Florida weather.
The demonstrations of today appear to me to be like excuses to cause trouble, but again that's my opinion. Some of these folks are genuinely disturbed over things like the killing of George Floyd, but others are sent in to stir up unrest. It seems foolish to me to tear down historical relics. For sure there are relics, monuments, statues, and so around the globe to fit every variety of hate and dislike. For certain things will be changed, but will it be for the better? A seer I'm not.
I'm reminded of a statement I've seen around for a while, "just because you are offended or irritated by something doesn't mean you're right."