The reason we protested back in the 70's and 80's and 90's my generation is because we didn't have the surveillance state we have today. None of us even thought about joining into a protest and doing what we wanted, but today there's cameras everywhere, and there's been thousands of laws added that if you break them you're given a record that will effect your employment.
As they created more laws to cage people in, more and more of these expressions disappeared. If I apply for a job, the first thing my employer will do is extensive background check, if I have even one blemish on my record, something as simple as a traffic infraction for not wearing your seat belt they'll toss you. So considering if you went to college and spent money and time getting a degree it's natural to hesitate when LE can destroy all your hard work over bullshit.
Back in the 60's, you could get away with all sorts of shit, you could probably murder someone and they'd never catch you, no DNA, no cameras watching. Serial Murders ran strong in this country until the mid 90's when DNA testing rapidly shut that down.
You live in a police state, what my dad did in the 50's and 60's would never fly today. He used to saddle up in the bar when he was 12 and get drunk. Where's that happening these days? If someone let that happen they'd lose their license and probably go to jail.