This was just an example--my point really is that when push comes to shove, most people will back down.

See J6 as an example--call someone a "terrorist" and you get to lock them up forever.

And that one event (and the resulting "punishment") has resulted in zero ongoing protests since...

Yes that's fear...and no matter what you call it, it's easy for folks to say "rebel" and "resist" but virtually no one will do it when the time comes.